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)..................................................
¨ Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)................................................
¨ Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta).......................................
¨ Holly Azure (Celastrina idella)..................................................
Snouts (Libytheinae)
¨ American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)..................................
Heliconians and Fritillaries (Heliconiinae)
¨ Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)..............................................
¨ Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia)..............................
¨ Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)..................................
True Brushfoots (Nymphalinae)
¨ Question Mark (Polyconia interrogationis).............................
¨ American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)......................................
¨ Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)...................................................
¨ Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)................................................
¨ Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)........................................
¨ White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)...........................................
¨ Phaon Crescent (Phycoides tharos)...........................................
Sp
R
C
U
C
A
Sp
C
Sp
C
C
Sp
U
R
R
U
Sp
R
R
U
Sp
U
Sp
R
Sp
U
C
U
C
A
S
R
C
U
C
C
A
S
A
S
A
U
A
S
U
R
R
C
S
U
U
U
S
U
S
R
U
S
U
C
R
U
C
R
C
F
R
U
R
U
U
A
F
C
F
A
U
C
F
R
U
F
U
U
F
-
F
A
R
U
F
U
C
R
U
C
R
A
Admirals (Limenitidinae)
¨ Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis).................................
¨ Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)....................................................
Emperors (Apaturinae)
¨ Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis)................................
Satyrs (Satyrinae)
¨ Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)................................
Milkweed Butterflies (Apaturinae)
¨ Monarch (Batus philenor)....................................
¨ Queen (Papilio polyxenes)....................................
Spreadwing Skippers (Pyrginae)
¨ Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus).............................
¨ Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)....................................
¨ Horace’s Diskywing (Erynnis horatius)...................................
¨ Common/White Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus sp.)..................
¨ Tropical Checkered Skipper(Pyrgus oileus)............................
Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae)
¨ Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus).............................................
¨ Whirlabout (Polites vibex)...........................................................
¨ Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala)................................................
¨ Salt Marsh Skipper (Panoquina panoquin).............................
¨ Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola).............................................
Giant Skippers (Megathyminae)
¨ Yucca Giant-Skipper (Megathymus yuccae)............................
Sp
U
U
Sp
R
Sp
C
Sp
U
Sp
C
U
R
Sp
U
U
C
Sp
R
S
U
C
S
R
S
U
S
U
R
S
C
C
C
U
S
A
C
U
U
R
S
-
F
R
U
F
R
F
C
F
C
U
F
C
A
R
U
X
F
A
C
C
C
C
F
-
Checklist Key
Seasonal Appearances
Sp - Spring (March to May)
S - Summer (June to September)
F - Fall (September to November)
Seasonal Abuncance
A - Abundant (a common species seen in poportionally
high numbers)
C - Common (usually seen in suitable habitat)
U - Uncommon (usually seen but not certain to be seen)
R - Rare (regularly seen at intervals of two to five years,
sometimes in high numbers
X - Accidental (seen at intervals of six years or more)
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