Arizona Butterfly and Moth Conservation Checklist
Click here for an earlier post with a more detailed discussion.
Butterflies, just like honey bees and other pollinators, are declining because of habitat loss and because of pesticides. Even herbicides can be deadly. Monarch butterflies for instance, do not lay many eggs if there aren’t any milkweeds, and people routinely eradicate milkweeds along with other plants.
According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the conservation status of most butterflies is unknown. Our knowledge of moths is even less complete. Most moth species have not been identified, and there is almost no information on the conservation status of Arizona moths. The number given below for butterflies at risk of extinction is almost certainly lower than the actual number.
Butterfly and Moth Photographs
Here are a few sample photographs of butterflies and moths seen around my home in Dewey-Humboldt on the Agua Fria River in central Arizona. If there was a common designation of knowledge below “amateur,” it would describe my expertise with the Lepodoptera. Thus, I could not identify some of the photographed species with confidence. This is especially true for moths.
Butterfly and Moth Species Numbers
World: 150,000
United States: 4300
Arizona: Butterflies, 368; Moths, 615+
Arizona native butterflies at risk of extinction: 36
Butterfly and Moth References
The online Naturalist’s Bookstore has field guides (at the end of the category list) and other references. Go to: http://bit.ly/RKW2bC.
- Bailowitz, R., and J.Brock. 1991. Butterflies of southeastern Arizona. Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute. Tucson, AZ. 364 p.
- BAMONA. 2013. (Butterflies and moths of North America): http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/.
- Beyond Pesticides: http://beyondpesticides.org/.
- Gardens With Wings: http://www.gardenswithwings.com/index.html.
- Glassberg, J. 2001. Butterflies through binoculars: The West. Oxford University Press, New York, NY. 374 p.
- International Lepidoptera Society: http://tils-ttr.org.
- LAB (Learn About Butterflies): www.learnaboutbutterflies.com.
- NABA (North American Butterfly Association): http://www.naba.org/.
- Pesticide Action Network: http://panna.org.
- Scoble, M.J. 1995. The Lepidoptera: Form, function, and diversity. Oxford University Press, Oxford. 416 p.
Arizona Butterfly Conservation Status Symbols Used in the Checklist
- E = Species endangered in all or part of its range according to the U. S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).
- I = Introduced and Invasive species from various sources.
- S = Species recognized as candidates for listing as E or T according to ESA, and species of concern to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, U. S. Bureau of Land Management, U. S. Forest Service, Navajo Tribe, and Mexican government (includes Arizona species that are endangered, threatened, or of concern in Mexico).
- T = Species threatened in all or part of its range according to the ESA.
- X = Species extinct over part or all of the species range within Arizona.
Arizona Butterfly Checklist
The checklist includes all Arizona butterflies and the family and subfamily names for moths. There are possibly 10 times as many moth species as butterfly species, but since most moths are observable only at night, most species have not been identified. Moreover, the distribution of known species is uncertain. A list of known species of Arizona moths is available at BAMONA.org.
Arizona Butterflies
- ……Abaeis nicippe / Sleepy Orange
- ……Achalarus albociliatus / Skinner’s Cloudywing
- ……Achalarus casica / Desert Cloudywing
- ……Achalarus toxeus / Coyote Cloudywing
- ……Adelpha bredowii / Bredow’s Sister
- ……Adelpha eulalia / Arizona Sister
- S….Adopaeoides prittwitzi / Sunrise Skipper
- ……Agathymus alliae / Mojave Giant-Skipper
- ……Agathymus aryxna / Arizona Giant-Skipper
- ……Agathymus baueri / Bauer’s Giant-Skipper
- S….Agathymus evansi / Huachuca Giant-Skipper
- ……Agathymus gentryi / Gentry’s Giant-Skipper
- S….Agathymus neumoegeni / Orange Giant-Skipper
- S….Agathymus polingi / Poling’s Giant-Skipper
- ……Aglais milberti–/–Milbert’s Tortoiseshell
- ……Agraulis vanillae / Gulf Fritillary
- ……Aguna asander / Gold-spotted Aguna
- ……Amblyscirtes aenus / Bronze Roadside-Skipper
- ……Amblyscirtes cassus / Cassus Roadside-Skipper
- ……Amblyscirtes elissa / Elissa Roadside-Skipper
- ……Amblyscirtes eos / Dotted Roadside-Skipper
- ……Amblyscirtes exoteria / Large Roadside-Skipper
- ……Amblyscirtes fimbriata / Orange-edged Roadside-Skipper
- ……Amblyscirtes nereus / Slaty Roadside-Skipper
- ……Amblyscirtes nysa / Nysa Roadside-Skipper
- ……Amblyscirtes oslari / Oslar’s Roadside-Skipper
- ……Amblyscirtes phylace / Orange-headed Roadside-Skipper
- ……Amblyscirtes texanae / Texas Roadside-Skipper
- ……Amblyscirtes tolteca / Prenda Roadside-Skipper
- ……Amblyscirtes vialis / Common Roadside-Skipper
- ……Anaea aidea–/–Tropical Leafwing
- ……Anaea andria–/–Goatweed Leafwing
- ……Anatrytone logan / Delaware Skipper
- ……Ancyloxypha arene / Tropical Least Skipper
- ……Ancyloxypha numitor / Least Skipper
- ……Anteos clorinde / White Angled-Sulphur
- ……Anteos maerula / Yellow Angled-Sulphur
- ……Anthanassa tulcis–/–Tulcis Crescent
- ……Anthanassa texana–/–Texan Crescent
- ……Anthocharis cethura / Desert Orangetip
- ……Anthocharis thoosa / Southwestern Orangetip
- ……Antigonus emorsa / White Spurwing
- ……Apodemia hepburni / Hepburn’s Metalmark
- ……Apodemia mejicanus / Sonoran Metalmark
- ……Apodemia mormo / Mormon Metalmark
- ……Apodemia nais / Nais Metalmark
- ……Apodemia palmeri / Palmer’s Metalmark
- ……Apodemia phyciodoides / Crescent Metalmark
- ……Appias drusilla / Florida White
- ……Apyrrothrix araxes / Dull Firetip
- ……Arawacus jada / Creamy Stripestreak
- ……Ascia monuste / Great Southern White
- ……Asterocampa celtis / Hackberry Emperor
- ……Asterocampa clyton / Tawny Emperor
- ……Asterocampa idyja / Dusky Emperor
- ……Asterocampa leilia / Empress Leilia
- ……Astraptes fulgerator / Two-barred Flasher
- ……Atalopedes campestris / Sachem
- ……Atlides halesus / Great Purple Hairstreak
- S….Atrytonopsis cestus / Cestus Skipper
- S….Atrytonopsis deva / Deva Skipper
- ……Atrytonopsis edwardsi / Sheep Skipper
- ……Atrytonopsis lunus / Moon-marked Skipper
- ……Atrytonopsis pittacus / White-barred Skipper
- ……Atrytonopsis python / Python Skipper
- ……Atrytonopsis vierecki / Viereck’s Skipper
- ……Autochton cellus / Golden Banded-Skipper
- X….Autochton pseudocellus / Sonoran Banded-Skipper
- ……Baeotis zonata / Bumblebee Metalmark
- ……Battus philenor / Pipevine Swallowtail
- ……Battus polydamas / Polydamas Swallowtail
- ……Bolla clytius / Mottled Bolla
- ……Brephidium exilis / Western Pygmy-Blue
- ……Cabares potrillo / Potrillo Skipper
- S….Calephelis arizonensis / Arizona Metalmark
- ……Calephelis nemesis / Fatal Metalmark
- ……Calephelis wrighti / Wright’s Metalmark
- ……Callophrys affinis / Western Green Hairstreak
- ……Callophrys augustinus / Brown Elfin
- S….Callophrys comstocki / Comstock’s Hairstreak
- ……Callophrys eryphon / Western Pine Elfin
- S….Callophrys fotis / Desert Elfin
- ……Callophrys gryneus / Juniper Hairstreak
- ……Callophrys sheridanii / Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak
- ……Callophrys spinetorum / Thicket Hairstreak
- S….Callophrys xami / Xami Hairstreak
- ……Calpodes ethlius / Brazilian Skipper
- ……Celaenorrhinus fritzgaertneri / Fritzgaertner’s Flat
- ……Celastrina echo / Echo Azure
- ……Celastrina ladon / Spring Azure
- ……Celotes nessus / Common Streaky-Skipper
- ……Cercyonis pegala–/–Common Wood-Nymph
- ……Cercyonis meadii–/–Mead’s Wood-Nymph
- ……Cercyonis sthenele–/–Great Basin Wood-Nymph
- ……Cercyonis oetus–/–Small Wood-Nymph
- ……Chioides albofasciatus / White-striped Longtail
- ……Chioides zilpa / Zilpa Longtail
- ……Chiomara georgina / White-patched Skipper
- ……Chiomara mithrax / Slaty Skipper
- ……Chlorostrymon simaethis / Silver-banded Hairstreak
- ……Chlosyne acastus / Acastus Checkerspot
- ……Chlosyne californica / California Patch
- S….Chlosyne cyneas / Cyneas Checkerspot
- ……Chlosyne definita / Definite Patch
- ……Chlosyne fulvia / Fulvia Checkerspot
- ……Chlosyne lacinia / Bordered Patch
- ……Chlosyne leanira / Leanira Checkerspot
- ……Chlosyne nycteis / Silvery Checkerspot
- ……Chlosyne rosita / Rosita Patch
- ……Chlosyne theona / Theona CheckerspotChlosyne rosita
- ……Codatractus arizonensis / Arizona Skipper
- S….Codatractus valeriana / Valeriana Skipper
- ……Coenonympha tullia–/–Common Ringlet
- ……Cogia caicus / Gold-costa Skipper
- ……Cogia hippalus / Acacia Skipper
- ……Colias alexandra / Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur
- ……Colias eurytheme / Orange Sulphur
- ……Colias philodice / Clouded Sulphur
- ……Copaeodes aurantiaca / Orange Skipperling
- ……Copaeodes minima / Southern Skipperling
- ……Cupido amyntula / Western Tailed-Blue
- ……Cupido comyntas / Eastern Tailed-Blue
- ……Cyanophrys longula / Long-winged Greenstreak
- ……Cyllopsis pertepida / Warm Brown or Canyonland Satyr
- ……Cyllopsis pyracmon / Pyracmon Brown or Nabokov’s Satyr
- ……Cyllopsis pyracmon henshawi / Henshaw’s Brown
- ……Cymaenes trebius / Fawn-spotted Skipper
- ……Danaus eresimus / Soldier
- ……Danaus gilippus / Queen
- ……Danaus plexippus / Monarch
- ……Dione moneta / Mexican Silverspot
- ……Doxocopa laure / Silver Emperor
- ……Dymasia dymas–/–Tiny Checkerspot
- ……Echinargus isola / Reakirt’s Blue
- S….Emesis ares / Ares Metalmark
- S….Emesis zela / Zela Metalmark
- ……Epargyreus clarus / Silver-spotted Skipper
- ……Erora quaderna / Arizona Hairstreak
- ……Erynnis afranius / Afranius Duskywing
- ……Erynnis brizo / Sleepy Duskywing
- ……Erynnis funeralis / Funereal Duskywing
- ……Erynnis horatius / Horace’s Duskywing
- ……Erynnis icelus / Dreamy Duskywing
- ……Erynnis juvenalis / Juvenal’s Duskywing
- ……Erynnis meridianus / Meridian Duskywing
- ……Erynnis pacuvius / Pacuvius Duskywing
- ……Erynnis persius / Persius Duskywing
- S….Erynnis scudderi / Scudder’s Duskywing
- ……Erynnis telemachus / Rocky Mountain Duskywing
- ……Erynnis tristis / Mournful Duskywing
- ……Euchloe guaymasensis / Sonoran Marble
- ……Euchloe hyantis / California Marble
- ……Euchloe lotta / Desert Marble
- ……Eueides isabella / Isabella’s Heliconian
- ……Euphilotes battoides / Western Square-dotted Blue
- ……Euphilotes baueri / Bauer’s Dotted-Blue
- ……Euphilotes bernardino / Bernardino Dotted-Blue
- ……Euphilotes ellisi Ellis’ / Dotted-Blue
- ……Euphilotes enoptes / Pacific Dotted-Blue
- S….Euphilotes mojave / Mojave Blue
- S….Euphilotes mojave virginensis / Mojave (Virgin) Blue
- ……Euphilotes pallescens / Pallid Dotted-Blue
- ……Euphilotes rita / Rita Dotted-Blue
- ……Euphilotes spaldingi / Spalding’s Dotted-Blue
- ……Euphydryas chalcedona–/–Chalcedon Checkerspot
- ……Euphydryas anicia–/–Anicia Checkerspot
- ……Euphyes vestris / Dun Skipper
- ……Euptoieta claudia / Variegated Fritillary
- ……Euptoieta hegesia / Mexican Fritillary
- ……Eurema boisduvaliana / Boisduval’s Yellow
- ……Eurema daira / Barred Yellow
- ……Eurema mexicana / Mexican Yellow
- S….Ganyra howarthi / Howarth’s White
- ……Glaucopsyche lygdamus / Silvery Blue
- ……Glaucopsyche piasus / Arrowhead Blue
- ……Grais stigmaticus / Hermit Skipper
- ……Gyrocheilus patrobas–/–Red-bordered Satyr
- ……Habrodais grunus / Golden Hairstreak
- ……Heliconius charithonia / Zebra Heliconian
- ……Heliopetes ericetorum / Northern White-Skipper
- ……Heliopetes laviana / Laviana White-Skipper
- ……Heliopyrgus domicella / Erichson’s White-Skipper
- ……Hemiargus ceraunus / Ceraunus Blue
- ……Hesperia colorado / Western Branded Skipper
- ……Hesperia juba / Juba Skipper
- ……Hesperia lindseyi / Lindsey’s Skipper
- ……Hesperia nevada / Nevada Skipper
- ……Hesperia pahaska / Pahaska Skipper
- ……Hesperia uncas / Uncas Skipper
- ……Hesperia viridis / Green Skipper
- ……Hesperia woodgatei / Apache Skipper
- ……Hesperopsis alpheus / Saltbush Sootywing
- S….Hesperopsis gracielae / MacNeill’s Sootywing
- ……Hesperopsis libya / Mohave Sootywing
- ……Historis acheronta / Tailed Cecropian
- ……Hylephila phyleus / Fiery Skipper
- ……Hypaurotis crysalus / Colorado Hairstreak
- ……Hypostrymon critola / Sonoran Hairstreak
- ……Junonia coenia–/–Common Buckeye
- ……Junonia evarete–/–Tropical Buckeye
- ……Kricogonia lyside / Lyside Sulphur
- ……Lasaia maria / Maria’s Metalmark
- ……Leptotes marina / Marine Blue
- ……Lerema accius / Clouded Skipper
- ……Lerodea arabus / Olive-clouded Skipper
- ……Lerodea eufala / Eufala Skipper
- ……Libytheana carinenta / American Snout
- ……Limenitis archippus / Viceroy
- ……Limenitis arthemis / Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
- ……Limenitis arthemis arizonensis / Arizona Red-spotted Purple
- ……Limenitis weidemeyerii / Weidemeyer’s Admiral
- ……Lycaena arota / Tailed Copper
- S….Lycaena ferrisi / Ferris’ Copper
- ……Lycaena heteronea / Blue Copper
- ……Lycaena rubidus / Ruddy Copper
- ……Marpesia chiron / Many-banded Daggerwing
- ……Marpesia petreus / Ruddy Daggerwing
- ……Megathymus streckeri / Strecker’s Giant-Skipper
- ……Megathymus ursus / Ursine Giant-Skipper
- ……Megathymus yuccae / Yucca Giant-Skipper
- ……Megisto rubricata–/–Red Satyr
- ……Memphis glycerium–/–Angled Leafwing
- ……Mestra amymone / Common Mestra
- ……Microtia elva–/–Elf
- ……Ministrymon azia / Gray Ministreak
- ……Ministrymon clytie / Clytie Ministreak
- ……Ministrymon leda / Leda Ministreak
- ……Morpho polyphemus–/–White Morpho
- ……Mylon pelopidas / Pale Mylon / Dingy Mylon
- S….Nastra julia / Julia’s Skipper
- ……Nathalis iole / Dainty Sulphur
- ……Neominois ridingsii–/–Ridings’ Satyr
- ……Neophasia menapia / Pine White
- ……Neophasia terlooii / Chiricahua White
- ……NotAmblyscirtes simius / Simius Roadside-Skipper
- ……Nyctelius nyctelius / Violet-banded Skipper
- ……Nymphalis antiopa–/–Mourning Cloak
- ……Nymphalis californica–/–California Tortoiseshell
- ……Oarisma edwardsii / Edwards’ Skipperling
- ……Oarisma garita / Garita Skipperling
- ……Ocaria ocrisia / Black Hairstreak
- ……Ochlodes sylvanoides / Woodland Skipper
- ……Ochlodes yuma / Yuma Skipper
- ……Oeneis alberta–/–Alberta Arctic
- ……Panoquina lucas / Purple-washed Skipper
- ……Panoquina ocola / Ocola Skipper
- ……Papilio anchisiades / Ruby-spotted Swallowtail
- ……Papilio astyalus / Broad-banded Swallowtail
- ……Papilio cresphontes / Giant Swallowtail
- ……Papilio indra / Indra Swallowtail
- S….Papilio indra kaibabensis / Short-tailed Black Swallowtail
- ……Papilio machaon / Old World Swallowtail
- ……Papilio multicaudata / Two-tailed Swallowtail
- ……Papilio pilumnus / Three-tailed Swallowtail
- ……Papilio polyxenes / Black Swallowtail
- ……Papilio rutulus / Western Tiger Swallowtail
- ……Papilio zelicaon / Anise Swallowtail
- ……Paramacera xicaque–/–Pine Satyr
- ……Paratrytone snowi / Snow’s Skipper
- ……Parides alopius / White-dotted Cattleheart
- ……Phaeostrymon alcestis / Soapberry Hairstreak
- ……Philotiella speciosa / Small Dotted-Blue
- ……Phoebis agarithe / Large Orange Sulphur
- ……Phoebis neocypris / Tailed Sulphur
- ……Phoebis philea / Orange-barred Sulphur
- ……Phoebis sennae / Cloudless Sulphur
- ……Pholisora catullus / Common Sootywing
- ……Pholisora mejicanus–/–Mexican Sootywing
- X….Phyciodes batesii–/–Tawny Crescent
- X….Phyciodes batesii anasazi–/–Canyon Crescent
- ……Phyciodes cocyta–/–Northern Crescent
- ……Phyciodes graphica–/–Vesta Crescent
- ……Phyciodes mylitta–/–Mylitta Crescent
- ……Phyciodes pallescens–/–Mexican Crescent
- ……Phyciodes pallida–/–Pale Crescent
- ……Phyciodes phaon–/–Phaon Crescent
- ……Phyciodes picta–/–Painted Crescent
- ……Phyciodes picta canace–/–Painted Crescent
- ……Phyciodes pulchella–/–Field Crescent
- ……Phyciodes tharos–/–Pearl Crescent
- ……Pieris marginalis / Margined White
- ……Pieris rapae / Cabbage White
- ……Piruna aea / Many-spotted Skipperling
- ……Piruna pirus / Russet Skipperling
- X….Piruna polingii / Four-spotted Skipperling
- ……Plebejus acmon / Acmon Blue
- ……Plebejus glandon / Arctic Blue
- ……Plebejus icarioides / Boisduval’s Blue
- ……Plebejus lupini / Lupine Blue
- ……Plebejus melissa / Melissa Blue (includes Karner Blue)
- ……Plebejus saepiolus / Greenish Blue
- S….Poanes melane / Umber Skipper
- S….Poanes melane vitellina / Vitelline Skipper
- ……Poanes taxiles / Taxiles Skipper
- ……Polites carus / Carus Skipper
- ……Polites draco / Draco Skipper
- S….Polites mystic / Long Dash
- ……Polites peckius / Peck’s Skipper
- ……Polites rhesus / Rhesus Skipper
- ……Polites sabuleti / Sandhill Skipper
- ……Polites sonora / Sonora Skipper
- ……Polites themistocles / Tawny-edged Skipper
- ……Polygonia interrogationis–/–Question Mark
- ……Polygonia satyrus–/–Satyr Comma
- ……Polygonia faunus–/–Green Comma
- ……Polygonia gracilis–/–Hoary Comma
- ……Polygonus leo / Hammock Skipper
- ……Polythrix mexicanus / Mexican Longtail
- ……Polythrix octomaculata / Eight-spotted Longtail
- ……Pontia beckerii / Becker’s White
- ……Pontia occidentalis / Western White
- ……Pontia protodice / Checkered White
- ……Pontia sisymbrii / Spring White
- ……Proteides mercurius / Mercurial Skipper
- ……Pyrgus albescens / White Checkered-Skipper
- ……Pyrgus communis / Common Checkered-Skipper
- ……Pyrgus oileus / Tropical Checkered-Skipper
- ……Pyrgus philetas / Desert Checkered-Skipper
- ……Pyrgus scriptura / Small Checkered-Skipper
- ……Pyrgus xanthus / Mountain Checkered-Skipper
- ……Pyrisitia dina / Dina Yellow
- ……Pyrisitia lisa / Little Yellow
- ……Pyrisitia nise / Mimosa Yellow
- S….Pyrisitia proterpia / Tailed Orange
- ……Rekoa marius / Marius Hairstreak
- ……Satyrium behrii / Behr’s Hairstreak
- ……Satyrium ilavia / Ilavia Hairstreak
- ……Satyrium saepium / Hedgerow Hairstreak
- ……Satyrium sylvinus / Sylvan Hairstreak
- ……Satyrium titus / Coral Hairstreak
- ……Siproeta stelenes–/–Malachite
- ……Smyrna blomfildia / Blomfild’s Beauty
- ……Speyeria aphrodite / Aphrodite Fritillary
- ……Speyeria coronis / Coronis Fritillary
- S….Speyeria hesperis / Northwestern Fritillary
- ……Speyeria mormonia / Mormon Fritillary
- S….Speyeria mormonia luski / Atronis Fritillary
- S….Speyeria nokomis / Nokomis Fritillary
- S….Speyeria nokomis coerulescens / Blue Silverspot Butterfly
- S….Speyeria nokomis nitocris / Mountain Silverspot Butterfly
- ……Staphylus ceos / Golden-headed Scallopwing
- ……Stinga morrisoni / Morrison’s Skipper
- ……Strymon bazochii / Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak
- ……Strymon bebrycia / Red-lined Scrub-Hairstreak
- ……Strymon cestri / Tailless Scrub-Hairstreak
- ……Strymon istapa / Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak
- ……Strymon melinus / Gray Hairstreak
- ……Strymon yojoa / Yojoa Scrub-Hairstreak
- ……Synapte shiva / Faded Faceted Skipper
- ……Systasea pulverulenta / Texas Powdered Skipper
- ……Systasea zampa / Arizona Powdered Skipper
- ……Texola elada–/–Elada Checkerspot
- ……Thessia jalapus / Jalapus Cloudywing
- ……Thorybes drusius / Drusius Cloudywing
- ……Thorybes mexicana / Mexican Cloudywing
- ……Thorybes pylades / Northern Cloudywing
- ……Timochares ruptifasciata / Brown-banded Skipper
- ……Urbanus dorantes / Dorantes Longtail
- ……Urbanus procne / Brown Longtail
- ……Urbanus proteus / Long-tailed Skipper
- ……Vanessa atalanta–/–Red Admiral
- ……Vanessa cardui–/–Painted Lady
- ……Vanessa annabella–/–West Coast Lady
- ……Vanessa virginiensis–/–American Lady
- ……Windia windi / Wind’s Skipper
- ……Zerene cesonia / Southern Dogface
- ……Zestusa dorus / Short-tailed Skipper
- S….Zizula cyna / Cyna Blue
The butterfly photos are beautiful. When we lived in FL, we used to plant flowers that attracted them.
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Reblogged this on Mungai and the Goa Constrictor and commented:
Such wonderful photographs.
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hermes 通販
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