WHITE HOUSE FARM FOUNDATION – LURAY, VA

BUTTERFLY COUNT 2015

Contact: Chris Anderson, Executive Director:


PAPILIONIDAE - Swallowtails

Battus philenor Pipevine Swallowtail / 1 / Pipevines
Eurytides marcellus Zebra Swallowtail / 1 / Paw paw
Papilio polyxenes Black Swallowtail / 4 / Many plants in parsley family
Papilio glaucus Eastern Tiger Swallowtail / 4 / Cottonwood, tuliptree, sweetbay, cherry, etc.
Papilio troilus Spicebush Swallowtail / 1 / Spicebush, sassafrass & other laurels

PIERIDAE - Whites & Sulphurs

Pieris rapae Cabbage White / 21 / Cabbage, nasturtium, watercress. Various mustards
Colias philodice Clouded Sulphur / 10 / Alfalfa, white clover & other legumes
Colias eurytheme Orange Sulphur / 4 / Alfalfa, native & exotic clovers, other legumes
Phoebis sennae Cloudless Sulphur / 10 / Senna

LYCAENIDAE – Hairstreaks

Callophrys gryneus gryneus 'Olive' Juniper Hairstreak / 14 / Eastern Red Cedar

LYCAENIDAE – Blues

Everes comyntas Eastern Tailed-Blue / 5 / Flowers/Seeds of many legumes

NYMPHALIDAE – Brushfoots

Chlosyne nycteis Silvery Checkerspot / 1 / Black-eyed Susan, wingstem & related plants
Phyciodes tharos Pearl Crescent / 13 / Asters
Polygonia interrogationis Question Mark / 1 / Hops, nettles, elms, hackberries
Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral / 1 / Nettles, false nettles, pellitories & related plants

HESPERIIDAE - Spreadwing Skippers

Epargyreus clarus Silver-spotted Skipper / 1 / Locust, wisteria, other legumes
Pholisora catullus Common Sootywing / 10 / Pigweeds and other amaranths

HESPERIIDAE - Grass-Skippers

Ancyloxypha numitor Least Skipper / 1 / Grasses
Hylephila phyleus Fiery Skipper / 1 / Primarily Bermuda grass
Atalopedes campestris Sachem / 7 +8 =15 / Crabgrass, Bermuda and other grasses
TOTALNUMBER COUNTED / 119
9 surveyors who participated for a total of 27 hours: (9am-12pm) + 1 surveyor for an additional 1.5 hours = 28.5 hours total
119 total butterflies counted
20 species of butterfly identified
8 skippers unidentified – most likely sachems
Also Seen:
1 clear wing moth
2 Widow Skimmer Dragonflies (Libella luctuosa)
2 Monarch Tussock Moths
1 Illinois Bad-Wing Moth (Dyspteris abortivaria)
1 Orange Holomelina Moth (Virbia aurantiaca)
Unidentified blue damselfly (blue-fronted dancer?)

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