Kiawah Island Butterfly Checklist
The patterns of butterfly populations are very much a mystery. Some years will bring unuaually large numbers and varying species of
butterflies to Kiawah, while other years bring only average numbers of common species. Many butterflies hatch in seasonal broods, so a species
that is abundant one week may be difficult to find the next week. In addition, many butterflies are limited to native habitats and host plants
to complete their life cycle. The larvae of many species can only survive on specific plants; think of monarchs and milkweeds, longwings and
passionflowers. These host plants provide a critical link in butterfly survival. Protect native plants in your landscape and grow them in your
gardens to support these important pollinators.
Swallowtails (Papilioninae)
¨ Pipevine Swallowtail (Batus philenor)....................................
¨ Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)....................................
¨ Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes).................................
¨ E. Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)....................................
¨ Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)...................................
¨ Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes)..........................
Whites (Pierinae)
¨ Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)...................................................
Sulphurs (Coliadinae)
¨ Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)........................................
¨Little Yellow (Pyristia lisa)..........................................................
¨ Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe)................................................
Hairstreaks (Theclinae)
¨ Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium titus)...........................................
¨ Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius)..........................................
¨ White M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album).............................
¨ Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)...........................................
Blues (Polyommatinae)
¨ Eastern Pygmy Blue (Brephidium isophthalma)....................
¨ Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius)........................................