Northeast Iowa butterflies

Winneshiek County Conservation Board

Northeast Iowa Butterflies

Winneshiek County Conservation Board

Wildflower field

Wildflower fields are wonderful places for butterflies.

Wildflower fields are wonderful places for butterflies.

Tiger swallowtail – a fantastic “flying flower”Tiger swallowtail – a fantastic “flying flower”

Tiger swallowtail – a fantastic “flying flower”

Tiger swallowtail – ventral viewTiger swallowtails are big and mostly yellow.

Tiger swallowtail – ventral viewTiger swallowtails are big and mostly yellow.

Tiger swallowtail – ventral viewTiger swallowtails are big and mostly yellow.

Tiger swallowtails show up when the lilacs bloom

Woodlands are home to tiger swallowtails in summer.

Tiger swallowtail caterpillars look like strange creatures from outer space.

Tiger swallowtail caterpillars eat ash tree leaves out in the woods.

Giant swallowtail – the biggest butterfly in NE Iowa.

Giant swallowtail caterpillars are called “orange puppies” down South, as they eat orange tree leaves

Giant swallowtail caterpillars are called “orange puppies” down South, as they eat orange tree leaves

Or else show off their orange “devil horns” when threatened.

Or else show off their orange “devil horns” when threatened.

Giant swallowtail caterpillars eat prickly ash up here.

Giant swallowtails are shot with shotguns down South to protect citrus crops. Safe around here, they’re about half black and half yellow.

Black swallowtail – male

Black swallowtail – female shows less yellow and more blue.Black swallowtails are mostly black.

Black swallowtail caterpillars can sometimes be found in the garden, crawling around on members of the carrot family.

Black swallowtail caterpillars show orange “devil horns” when scared.

In they wild they eat Queen- Anne’s lace (wild carrot)

Red-spotted purple – looks like a black swallowtail without the tails.

Red-spotted purple – ventral view. Note all the orange dots.Red-spotted purples appear in mid-June.

Red-spotted purple caterpillars look like disgusting bird droppings.

Red-spotted purple caterpillars feed on hawthorn leaves

Haw “thorns”

Hawthorn trees have a stunted, rugged yet still picturesque silhouette out in the countryside.

White admiral – this is a red-spotted purple form found up in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, sometimes showing up here in NE Iowa.

Mourning Cloaks are called Camberwell beauties in the British Isles.

Mourning Cloak – ventral viewIn pioneer America, country kids called them yellow-edged butterflies

Mourning cloak – out early in spring, usually by late March after overwintering as an adult under some loose tree bark.

Mourning cloak caterpillars are spiny little critters with red legs.

Mourning cloak caterpillars are spiny little critters with red legs.

Elm treeMourning cloak caterpillars eat those sandpapery elm leaves

Question mark – also known as the violet tip butterfly for those tiny purple tails. One of the larger leaf mimic butterflies.

Question mark punctuation can be seen only from the bottom (ventral) side.

Look for question marks in woodland habitat where there’s lots of dead tree leaves.

Question mark caterpillars are quite a colorful handful.

Question mark caterpillars are fond of red elm leaves

The eastern comma is a question mark cousin. They tend to be slightly smaller in size. Eastern commas overwinter as adults in woodpiles.

The eastern comma showing that tiny silver comma. Eastern commas show a washy brownish-green cast from the bottom side.

The eastern comma showing that tiny silver comma. Eastern commas show a washy brownish-green cast from the bottom side.

Eastern comma caterpillars come to the table well-armed.

Eastern comma caterpillars come to the table well-armed.

Eastern comma caterpillars eat elm tree leaves too.

An eastern comma chrysalis shows why this “anglewing” is also called the hop merchant. When those golden spots on the case stand out conspicuously, hop farmers will get a high price for their crop – much gold.Hops leaves are another food source.

Gray commas look a lot like eastern commas. Check the ventral view to confirm the difference.

Gray Comma punctuation on a background of distinct gray strips or stripes.

Gray comma caterpillars could puncture your skin.

Gray comma caterpillars feast on gooseberry plant leaves.

Milbert’s tortoiseshell shows a wide bright orange band on its back.Milbert’s tortoiseshell shows a wide bright orange band on its back.

Milbert’s tortoiseshell – ventral view. Very dull.

Milbert’s tortoiseshell caterpillars are quite dark in color.Milbert’s tortoiseshell caterpillars are quite dark in color.

Milbert’s tortoiseshell caterpillars dare to eat nettle leaves

Compton tortoise shell – not nearly as common as its cousin.

Compton tortoiseshell – ventral view

Compton tortoiseshell caterpillars show more color.Compton tortoiseshell

caterpillars show more color.

Compton tortoiseshell habitat – “quakies”

Compton tortoiseshell habitat – a quaking aspen stand – “quakies”.

Compton tortoiseshell caterpillars munch on quaking aspen leaves

The red admiral has red stripes running up into the forewing.

Red admiral – ventral viewMore color showing here than on Milbert’s tortoiseshell.

Red admirals flutter around sunny woodland glades. They blow north early in the spring from Southern wintering sites.

Red admiral caterpillars are tough little characters.

Red admiral caterpillars chow down on wood nettle leaves.

The painted lady has more orange when compared to the red admiralThe painted lady has more orange when compared to the red admiral

Painted lady – a cosmopolitan traveler. Found worldwide, but blows north into Iowa from down South in spring and summer.

Painted lady caterpillars are thorny little things.

Painted lady caterpillars do good by defoliating thistle plants.

Painted Lady(ventral view)

Look close here for the five small eyes on the hind wing.

Painted lady(ventral view)

Look close here for the five small eyes on the hind wing.

American lady (ventral view). Note the two big eyes on the hind wing.

American ladies are not very common compared to painted ladies.

American lady caterpillars are pretty dangerous looking American lady caterpillars are pretty dangerous looking

American lady caterpillars can be found around their favorite food plant – pussytoes.

Great-spangled FritillaryThe great-spangled fritillary is a big, all orange butterfly.

Great-spangled fritillary (ventral view). Count the butterfly money.

Great-spangled fritillary caterpillars are well protected.

Great-spangled fritillary caterpillars love violets.

The aphrodite fritillary is found only on prairie - small spot on inner dorsal forewing is key to ID

The aphrodite fritillary is found only on prairie - small spot on inner dorsal forewing is key to ID

The aphrodite fritillary – ventral view.

Aphrodite fritillary habitat would be good old Iowa prairie

Aphrodite fritillary caterpillars can be found in the spring after violets are blooming on the prairie.

Aphrodite fritillary caterpillars would be looking for birdsfoot violets

Meadow fritillaries are much smaller than great-spangled fritillaries.

Meadow fritillary – ventral view. No butterfly money here.Meadow fritillary – ventral view. No butterfly money here.

Meadow fritillary habitat would be a wet prairie meadow.

Meadow fritillary caterpillars search for violets just like their cousins.

Prairie violets are perfect food for meadow fritillaries.

The regal fritillary is a really rare and beautiful find.

Regal Fritillary –ventral view

Regal fritillary –ventral view

Regal fritillary –ventral view

Look for regal fritillaries where you find blazing stars blooming in August, otherwise seen as a high quality prairie.

Regal fritillary caterpillars crawl around on the prairie in late spring.

Regal fritillary caterpillars crawl around on the prairie in late spring.

Regal fritillary caterpillars crawl around on the prairie in late spring.

Regal fritillary caterpillars home in on those obligate violets.As a rule, fritillaries feed on violets at night and hide during the day.

Great-spangled fritillary nectaring on milkweed. Fritillaries are often mistaken for another orange butterfly found around milkweed plants.Great-spangled fritillary nectaring on milkweed. Fritillaries are often mistaken for another orange butterfly found around milkweed plants.

Monarch male (with pouches)

Monarch male (with pheromone pouches)

Monarch female (without pouches). Her scent glands are found on her abdomen.

Monarch – ventral view is duller orange.

The famous striped monarch caterpillar dining on a milkweed leaf.

Monarchs aren’t fussy about the milkweed their caterpillars choose to chew on, like this swamp milkweed here, but they only eat the various milkweed species.

Monarchs aren’t fussy about the milkweed their caterpillars choose to chew on, like this swamp milkweed here, but they only eat the various milkweed species.

Monarchs make their pale green chrysalis on a nearby plant, in this case a grass stem.

Monarchs key in on blazing stars as a nectar source in the fall as they migrate south.

Monarch migration roostMonarch migration roost.They winter in Mexico, up in the mountains.

Monarch wearing a tag which helps track their movements as they work their way south.

Viceroy – a monarch mimic. Note the black line on the hind wing.

Monarch for comparison. Note the lack of black bands cutting through the hind wings on this female, nectaring here on an aster flower in the fall.

Viceroy – ventral viewViceroy – ventral view

Viceroy caterpillars look like bird droppings.

Viceroy caterpillars could be found around this bright willow bat, since they eat willow leaves in wetlands. areas.

Bronze copper – about the size of a penny.

Bronze copper – ventral view

Bronze copper caterpillar – looks a lot like a leaf midrib.

Bronze copper caterpillars chow down on curly dock.

American ??? copper – strange name since they’re non-native and came from Europe.

American ??? copper – strange name since they’re non-native and came from Europe.

American copper –ventral view & note dark outer wing band on forewing

American copper caterpillar

Look for American coppers to be flying around sunny wildflower fields in summer.Look for American coppers to be flying around sunny wildflower fields in summer.

American copper caterpillars feed on red sorrel leaves.

Pearl crescent – another small orange butterfly, with a silver or pearl wing border.

Pearl crescent –ventral viewPearl crescent –ventral views

Pearl crescent caterpillarPearl crescent caterpillar

Pearl crescent caterpillars eat aster flower leaves.

Baltimore checkerspot

Baltimore Checkerspot

Baltimore checkerspot –ventral view

Baltimore checkerspots are very rare and only found in fen habitats

Baltimore checkerspots are very rare and only found in fen habitats

Baltimore checkerspot caterpillar

TurtleheadTurtlehead is the only plant Baltimore checkerspot caterpillars eat.

The beautiful BuckeyeThe beautiful buckeye

Buckeyes have big showy eyespots.

Buckeye –ventral view

Buckeye caterpillar – a thorny little critter.Buckeye caterpillar – a thorny little critter.Buckeye caterpillar – a thorny little critter.

Plantain, that little weed that grows along sidewalk paths, is on the buckeye caterpillar’s food list.

Plantain, that little weed that grows along sidewalk paths, is on the buckeye caterpillar’s food list.

Hackberry emperor – a dull colored woodland butterfly.

Hackberry emperor – ventral view

Hackberry emperor – ventral view

“Hackberry” habitat

“Hackberry” habitat“Hackberry” habitat

Hackberry emperor caterpillar – eats those hackberry tree leaves.

Hackberry leaf – looks a lot like an elm leaf.

Hackberry tree trunk – the bark is very corky.

Hackberry butterflies have a habit of landing on your shoulder when you hike down a shaded woodland trail.

Especially common in mid-August.

Hackberry butterflies have a habit of landing on your shoulder when you hike down a shaded woodland trail. Especially common in mid-August.

Resting Hackberry emperor, though they can dart away very quickly.Resting hackberry emperor, though they can dart away very quickly.

Tawny emperor –forewings are more tawny or orange-brown than the hackberry emperor.

Much less common in the woodsas well.

Tawny emperor –ventral view

Tawny emperor –ventral view

Tawny emperor caterpillar

Tawny emperor caterpillars also eat hackberry leaves

The pearly eye is even drabber than the two emperors, being mostly grayish brown with those black eyespots.

Pearly eye – ventral viewSee the pearls?

Pearly eyes prefer sunny woodland habitats. Expect to find pearly eyes by early July.

Pearly eye caterpillar

Pearly eye caterpillars eat woodland grasses, like this bottlebrush grass

Eyed brown.This butterfly resembles a pearly eye, but they live in different habitats.

Also, their ventral eyespot outlines are different.

Eyed BrownEyed brown – ventral viewEyed brown – ventral view

Eyed browns are found in sunny prairie habitats.Mid-July is the peak flight season for eyed browns.

The eyed brown caterpillar looks like a blade of grass.

Tussock sedge leaves - summertimeLook for eyed brown caterpillars to be dining on tussock sedge leaves in the summertime

Tussock sedge – showing the humps in springtime

Little wood–satyr note fewer spots Little wood–satyr

note fewer spots

Little wood–satyr ventral view

Little wood–satyr caterpillars look like a little brown bump on a grass blade.

Little wood–satyr caterpillars like to chew on native grasses like Indiangrass growing along the woods edge.

Common wood nymph.

Wood Nymph

Common wood nymph –ventral view.Once known as the blue-eyed grayling.Common wood nymph –ventral view.Once known as the blue-eyed grayling.

Wet woodland meadow

Common wood nymphs can be found flying around the woodland margins

Common wood nymphs can be found flying around the sunny woodland margins

Look for common wood nymph caterpillars to be crawling around on grass leaves, mostly at night.

Common wood nymph caterpillars would be fond of deertongue grass out in the woods.

Look for these secretive sprites to be flying around in the woods during early July.

Olive hairstreak – note their little hairlike tails.Olive hairstreak – note their little hair-like tails.

Olive hairstreaks are found around red cedar trees.

Check for olive hairstreaks along the Upper Iowa River’s cedar covered bluffs.

Olive hairstreak caterpillars blend in beautifully with their food host – red cedar tree - leaves.

Red cedar trees up close.

Acadian hairstreak

Acadian hairstreaks also have the trailing hairs on their gray wings

Acadian hairstreak caterpillars like the taste of willow leaves. Look for adults around swampy willow habitat in August.

A typical willow tree growing out along the edge of a creek.

Acadian hairstreaks should be around in good numbers in early July.

Eastern tailed-blueEastern tailed-blue – a tiny butterfly

Eastern tailed-blue – ventral view

Note the little orange “eyes” meant to trick a bird into attacking the tail end.

Eastern tailed-blue – ventral view

Note the little orange “eyes” meant to trick a bird into attacking the tail end.

Eastern tailed-blue caterpillar

Look for eastern tailed-blue caterpillars around clover – a main food source, white clover shown here.

Eastern tailed-blues are pretty little puddlers.

Spring azure – one of the first butterflies to show up in springtime, usually early April. Tail-less.

Summer azure – ventral view. Common in midsummer.

Summer azure caterpillars are bumpy little creatures.

Purple Prairie clover

Summer azure caterpillars seek out redosier dogwood leaves

Skippers are small, quick and confusing little butterflies. Many kinds can be found in Iowa.

Common checkered skippers are fairly common and fairly easy to identify.

Common checkered skipper caterpillars look like a little piece of spaghetti.

Little bluestem grass

Common checkered skipper caterpillars like hollyhock and hibiscus plants in the garden.

Silver-spotted skipper – another obvious easy oneSilver-spotted skipper – another obvious easy one

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted skippers prefer an oak savannah habitatSilver-spotted skippers prefer an oak savannah habitat

Check out the orange eyes on this silver-spotted skipper caterpillar.

Silver-spotted skipper caterpillars seek out legumes like leadplant

Silver-spotted skipper caterpillars seek out legumes like leadplant

Columbine duskywing – can you guess the wildflower this butterfly will be found flying around in late spring?

Here’s a columbine duskywing caterpillar that would be chewing away on those mystery flower’s leaves

Columbine Columbine

Orange sulphur – male is “orangish”Also note the wide black wing borders

Orange sulphur male – ventral view.

Orange sulpher

Orange sulphur – classic female form shows light speckles breaking up that black backlit border

Orange sulphur caterpillar blends right into green leaves

Orange sulphurs are known as “alfalfa” butterflies, as that’s where their eggs are laid and the caterpillars feed.

One of our most common butterflies.

Orange sulphurs are known as “alfalfa” butterflies, as that’s where their eggs are laid and the caterpillars feed. One of our most common butterflies.

Clouded sulphur – male is more yellow

Clouded sulphur – this white, or abinic, female form shows a silver hindwing spot that tells us its not a cabbage white butterfly.

Clouded sulphur caterpillar crawling on sensitive plant

Clouded sulphur caterpillars eat sensitive plant leaves.

Sulpher butterflies congregate along roadsides in late summer, especially beside puddles after a rain.

Cabbage white – no ring on hindwing. Cabbage whites can be found flying around from April to October.

Cabbage whites may be the most common butterflies we see around the yard, and especially the garden.

Where to find the cabbage white

Not what you want to see on your cabbage plants.

Cabbage white caterpillars aren’t fussy, feasting as well on plants in the mustard family.

Butterflies love native flowers like showy coneflower.

Grow as many different kinds as you can around the garden or out in the back yard.

Least skippers on swamp milkweed. Plant the pretty flowers and the butterflies will come.