Butterflies Most Likely to be Seen In Tidewater, VA

and Their Host Plants
 

Scientific Name

Common Name

Host Plant
Asterocampa celtis Hackberry Emperor sugarberry, hackberry
Asterocampa clyton Tawny Emperor sugarberry, hackberry
Atalopedes campestris Sachem grasses - bermuda
Atlides halesus Great Purple Hairstreak mistletoe
Battus philenor Pipevine Swallowtail pipevine
Calycopis cecrops Red-Banded Hairstreak fallen leaves - sumacs, wax myrtle, oak
Cercyonis pegala Common (Lg.) Wood-Nymph purple top, other grasses
Celastrina ladon argiolus Spring Azure flowering parts — dogwood, wild cherry
Colias eurytheme Orange Sulphur legumes, clover, alfalfa
Colias philodice Clouded Sulphur legumes, clover, alfalfa, vetch, lupine
Danaus plexippus Monarch milkweeds
Endoia portlandia Southern Pearly-eye giant cane, switch cane
Endoia creola Creole Pearly Eye switch cane
Epargyreus clarus Silver-spotted Skipper black locust, wisteria, legumes
Erynnis horatius Horace’s Duskywing oaks
Euptoieta claudia Variegated Fritillary violet, maypop, passionflower, pansies, plantain
Eurema nicippe Sleepy Orange cassia
Eurytides marcellus Zebra Swallowtail pawpaw
Everes comyntas Eastern Tailed-Blue variety of herbaceous legumes
Hylephila phyleus Fiery Skipper weedy grasses — crabgrass, bermuda
Junonia coenia Common Buckeye snapdragon, toadflax, plantain, verbena
Lerema accius Clouded Skipper grasses
Libytheana bachmanii American Snout Butterfly hackberry, sugarberry
Limenitis archippus Viceroy willow, poplar, aspen, apple, cherry, plum
Limenitis astyanax Red-spotted Purple wild cherry, poplar, aspen, black oak
Lycaena phlaeas American Copper sheep sorrel
Megisto cymela Little Wood-Satyr grasses
Mitoura gryneus 'Olive' Juniper Hairstreak red cedar and other junipers
Nymphalis antiopa Mourning Cloak willow, birches, cottonwood, elm, hackberry
Papilio glaucus Eastern Tiger Swallowtail tulip poplar, wild cherry, sweet bay, tulip, lilac
Papilio palamedes Palamedes Swallowtail red bay
Papilio polyxenes asterius Black Swallowtail parsley, fennel, rue, dill, carrot family
Papilio troilus Spicebush Swallowtail spicebush, sassafras, various bays
Phoebis sennae Cloudless Sulphur cassia, clover, other legumes
Pholisora catullus Common Sootywing lamb’s quarter, amaranthus, cockscomb
Phyciodes tharos Pearl Crescent asters
Pieris rapae Cabbage White cabbage, mustard family, nasturtium, cleome
Poanes viator Broad-wing Skipper lamb’s quarter, amaranthus, cockscomb
Poanes zabulon Zabulon Skipper grasses
Polygonia comma Comma/Hop Merchant nettle, hops, elm, hackberry
Polygonia interrogationis Question Mark nettle, hops, elm, hackberry
Pyrgus communis Common Checkered Skipper mallow, hollyhock
Staphylus hayhurstii Hayhurst's Scallopwing Lamb’s quarter
Strymon melinus Gray Hairstreak pea and mallow families
Urbanus proteus Long-tailed Skipper beans and other legumes, crucifers, canna lilies
Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral nettles, false nettle, hops
Vanessa cardui Painted Lady thistle, mallow, legumes
Vanessa virginiensis American Lady everlastings, pussy toes, daisy family
 

  This list was prepared by members of The Butterfly Society of Virginia.  For membership information, contact Betty Hazen at A.E.HAZEN@worldnet.att.net  or by phone at (757) 456-0440. The Butterfly Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to education, conservation, gardening (both private and public) and volunteering for the benefit of the butterfly and moth populations of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Revised July 2001

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