Family Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)

Spot-celled Sister - Hodges#4527.3

Adelpha basiloides

Identification: The white wing band on this species fades out just short of the leading edge of the forewing. There is usually one faded white "cell" just beyond the end of the continuous band; the second-to-last cell of the band tends to bulge outwa

Arizona Sister - Hodges#4527.1

Adelpha eulalia

Identification: The Weidemeyer's Admiral - Limenitis weidemeyerii is most likely to be confused with the Arizona Sister within the United States, where the two are often found together. Weidemeyer's Admirals average smaller, have no orange near the

Band-celled Sister - Hodges#4526

Adelpha fessonia

Identification: Unlike the other US species of Adelpha, and two similar species of Doxocopa that occur in the US, the white wing band on this species extends, unbroken and unfaded, all the way to the leading edge of the forewing.

Peacock

Aglais io

The Peacock is a familiar sight in gardens across the British Isles and is unmistakable, with spectacular eyes on the upper side of the hind wings that give this butterfly its name. These eyes must appear very threatening to predators. This butterfly

Small Tortoiseshell

Aglais urticae

A familiar butterfly with orange-brown wings that are marked with blues and darker browns. The orange upper sides of the wings provide a contrast with the drab undersides. This butterfly can turn up almost anywhere, from city centres to mountaintops.

Gulf Fritillary - Hodges#4413

Agraulis incarnata

Identification: Below, the elongated silvery spots on the butterfly's hind wings and the edge of its forewings are characteristic (though quite similar to the pattering of Dione moneta ). Above, bright orange with black markings around the border an

Tropical Leafwing - Hodges#4552

Anaea aidea

Identification: Similar to A. andria , except with distinct tooth on hind wing margin between tail and annal (lower/inner) angle. Males are usually more strongly patterned with dark on upper side than are males of A. andria .

Florida Leafwing - Hodges#4553

Anaea troglodyta

Identification: Adult: forewing margin straight, and tip slightly hooked; hindwing has pointed tail; upperside red with dark outer margins but few other dark markings; forewing has dark bar in cell; underside of hindwing mottled gray and brown, resem

Chestnut Crescent - Hodges#4478.2

Anthanassa argentea

Identification: Males are a very dark black and chestnut above, females are similar to several other crescents. First U.S. Record: Relampago, Hidalgo Co., Texas - 1970 (Bordelon & Knudson 2000)

Purple Emperor

Apatura iris

Wingspan about 75 to 85 mm. The male butterfly is one of the most beautiful of all of the butterflies found in the British Isles. From certain angles it appears to have black wings intersected with white bands. However, when the wings are at a certai

Ringlet

Aphantopus hyperantus

The Ringlet is unmistakable when seen at rest - the rings on the hind wings giving this butterfly its common name. The upper sides are a uniform chocolate brown distinguishing this butterfly from the closely related Meadow Brown. Despite its uniformi

One-spotted Prepona - Hodges#4551.5

Archaeoprepona demophon

Identification: · · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited Representative Images Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals) Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) Subphylum H

Great Spangled Fritillary

Argynnis cybele

The great spangled fritillary (Speyeria cybele) is a North American butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.

Silver-washed Fritillary

Argynnis paphia

The female is slightly less colourful than the male which has more curved wings, is brighter orange and has dark bands across its forewings, actually scent marks. Woodland clearings, especially where violets are present in numbers. Like many other si

Empress Leilia - Hodges#4561

Asterocampa leilia

Identification: Distinguished from Hackberry Emperor by the present of two solid cell bars and two submarginal eyespots on the forewings. Perches on the ground more often than conspecifics which overlap its range. Tawny Emperor also shows two solid

Red Rim - Hodges#4539

Biblis hyperia

Identification: Adults are unmistakeable. Larvae are grayish brown with green warts and spines.

Boloria andersonii

Boloria andersoni

Identification: Similar to B. selene , except probably slightly larger, more underside hind wing median spots yellowish instead of white/silvered (but the one in discal cell white and perhaps silvered); with black spot in middle of discal cell tiny (

Purplish Fritillary - Hodges#4475

Boloria chariclea

Identification: Adult: upperside of wings orange with black spots, bars, and chevron-shaped markings, similar to many other Lesser Fritillaries. The hindwing underside of the two boreal forest subspecies ( grandis and rainieri ) is purplish or reddis

Western Meadow Fritillary - Hodges#4469

Boloria epithore

Identification: Most similar to Boloria kriemhild, frigga, bellona , and improba. B. improba is generally more northern and found higher in mountains, usually in moist tundra, is smaller, darker above, and duller below. B. frigga usually has bolder

Relict Fritillary - Hodges#4468

Boloria kriemhild

Identification: Extremely similar to, and perhaps best treated as a subspecies of Boloria epithore . Best distinguished by where found ( B. epithore occurs further to the north and west), but differing in less dark scaling than usual on the upper su

Silver-bordered Fritillary - Hodges#4464

Boloria selene

Identification: Dorsal, orange with black markings, consistant with other lesser fritillaries. Ventral, silver border along both outer wing margins, and HW basal spot is white with a black center spot. Populations have been declining in most areas, b

Black Checkerspot - Hodges#4507

Chlosyne cyneas

Identification: Adult: upperside dark brown with brownish-red marginal spots and two neat rows of white spots; underside white, cream, or yellow with black veins and margin; postmedian black band contains a row of light spots; marghinal fringe checke

Medial Patch - Hodges#4501.2

Chlosyne eumeda

Discussion of First Confirmed U.S. Record : Sullivan City, Starr Co., Texas - 1974 (Bordelon & Knudson 2007)

Crimson Patch - Hodges#4503

Chlosyne janais

Identification: Above forewing black with white spots, hindwing black with large red-orange basal patch. Below black with white spots, yellow basal patch on hindwing has black spots throughout. larvae white: northern-most regularly occurring populati

Leanira Checkerspot - Hodges#4505

Chlosyne leanira

Identification: White stripes on the back of the abdomen distinguish this from Chalcedon Checkerspot (which has white spots on the back of the abdomen). Also, the underside coloration is quite different. From very similar C. fulvia & cyneus (which d

Banded Checkerspot - Hodges#4501

Chlosyne pardelina

Type Locality: Texas, Duval Co., SH16 ca. 15 mi south of Freer at Parrilla Creek. TAMUIC. Higgins' Type : La Gloria, S. of Montclova, Coahuila, Mexico, 3300 ft. HT in AMNH. (BOA) First Texas record, a much worn female collected by Howard George Lacey

Rosita Patch - Hodges#4504

Chlosyne rosita

Identification: See under subspecies Type locality: “Western Guatemala, Moran, 3700 ft....Palin, 3500 ft....Escuintla, 2000 ft.”

Small Heath

Coenonympha pamphilus

This is the smallest of our 'browns' and is closer in size to a skipper, or Common Blue than its relatives, such as the Meadow Brown. However, its fluttering flight is quite different from that of the skippers and blues and is relatively easy to iden

Annulata Mosaic

Colobura annulata

Identification: See discussion under Colobura . Very similar to Colobura dirce , differing in ventral wing pattern. With the lighter brown stripes on the apical half of the ventral front wings narrower than in C. dirce , and not narrowing distinctly

Zebra Mosaic

Colobura dirce

Identification: See discussion under Colobura . Very similar to Colobura annulata , differing in ventral wing pattern. With the lighter brown stripes on the apical half of the ventral front wings wider than in C. annulata , and narrowing distinctly

Gemmed Satyr - Hodges#4573

Cyllopsis gemma

Identification: Mottled brown wings above and below. Underside of hindwing, near the margin, there is a grayish patch surrounding a few irregular black and white spots.

Soldier - Hodges#4616

Danaus eresimus

Identification: Dorsal, very similar to the Queen , with slightly darker veins. Male has a black dot on each HW. Ventral, black veins on both FW and HW, Queen only has black veins on HW. Soldiers are the only one in the genus that has pale squarish s

Juno Heliconian - Hodges#4414.1

Dione juno

This is the first U.S. record for this species. Initial identification by Javier DeLeon and Dan Jones.

Mexican Silverspot - Hodges#4414

Dione moneta

Identification: Underwing pattern extremely similar to Gulf Fritillary, but with a more distinct red patch along the leading edge of the forewing. On the upperwings there is a very strong contrast between the darker inner sections and brighter outer

Gulf Fritillary

Dione vanillae

The Gulf fritillary or passion butterfly (Agraulis vanillae) is a bright orange butterfly of the family Nymphalidae and subfamily Heliconiinae. That subfamily was formerly set apart as a separate family, the Heliconiidae. The Heliconiinae are "longwi

Silver Emperor - Hodges#4567

Doxocopa laure

Identification: Sexually dimorphic upperwing patterns. Females have a diagonal white slash across both wings, and a yellow spot near the forewing apex; extremely similar to female Pavon Emperor but this species has a broader white stripe with a round

Pavon Emperor - Hodges#4566

Doxocopa pavon

Identification: Females are brown with a diagonal white slash across the upperside of both wings, and a yellow spot near the forewing apex. Males have a similar pattern but with a metallic purplish-blue overlay that ranges from brilliant to subtle. S

Banded Orange Heliconian - Hodges#4415

Dryadula phaetusa

Identification: Adults: Upperside of male bright orange with black stripes. Female has smeared stripes and is duller. Caterpillar is dull purple, four rows of long spines, and has two spiny horns on head. First U.S. Record: Sarita, Kenedy Co., Texas

Four-spotted Sailor - Hodges#4534.1

Dynamine postverta

Identification: Extremely similar to the Blue-eyed Sailor ( D. dyonis ), though larger. Female has three distinct white stripes across the upperside of the hindwings, vs. just one in the Blue-eyed. Male upperwing is bluer and has four black spots nea

Common Banner - Hodges#4544.7

Epiphile adrasta

Identification: Upperside brilliant orange with broad black bands. Rusty brown under the hindwings with faded eyespots along the hindwing margins and near the forewing apices. Forewing underside has similar pattern to upperside, but usually mostly co

Vidler's Alpine - Hodges#4591

Erebia vidleri

Identification: Adult: chocolate-brown base; DFW with broad, light orange band with ragged outlines, band tapering down toward trailing edge; two eye-spots near the tip, plus one farther down. VFW same as above but with yellow band. DHW with narrower

Dingy Purplewing - Hodges#4532

Eunica monima

Identification: Purplish above with white spots on front wing, but not all pale spots white (some cloudy). Tip of front wings slightly truncated but not notched. Underside dull brownish and grayish (fresh specimens often tinged bluish) and leaf-like

Florida Purplewing - Hodges#4533

Eunica tatila

Identification: Purplish above with white spots on front wing and the tip of the front wing notched. The underside is dull brownish, usually with some grayish to slightly bluish areas, and with row of eye-spots only slightly offset (almost in an eve

Anicia Checkerspot - Hodges#4519

Euphydryas anicia

Identification: Distinction from E. chalcedona is based mainly on differences in genitalia; however, in most regions they may be told apart by the darker, more prevalently black coloring of E. chalcedona . Distinction from E. editha is sometimes diff

chalcedona-like

Euphydryas anicia--c

This grouping is for populations which look different from the bulk of E. anicia , and which sometimes seem to intergrade with populations of E. chalcedona to the west and south. They have male genitalia that are of the E. anicia type. These popula

anicia-like

Euphydryas chalcedona--a

This [perhaps artificial] category is created for those populations that have the genitalia of E. chalcedona , but with an over-all orange appearance more comparable to that of E. anicia . These populations occur primarily in the higher mountains to

Edith's Checkerspot - Hodges#4520

Euphydryas editha

Taylor’s checkerspot ( Euphydryas editha taylori ) is in imminent danger of going extinct.

Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555

Fountainea glycerium

Identification: Somewhat similar in color to Tropical and Goatweed Leafwings, but distinctively shaped.

Thick-tipped Greta - Hodges#4617.3

Greta morgane

First U.S. Record: World Birding Center Headquarters gardens, Bentsen-RGV State Park, Mission, Hidalgo Co., TX - December 8, 2004 (Randy Emmitt)

Gray Cracker - Hodges#4542

Hamadryas februa

Identification: Like other crackers, this species has a row of eyespots along the edge of the hindwing. This species, within those spots, has black crescents rather than complete black circles. It lands on tree trunks, wings spread, head downward.

Guatemalan Cracker - Hodges#4541.1

Hamadryas guatemalena

Identification: Simplest character is probably the spots along the hindwing margin, which are gray or brown, surrounded by a thin blue-white circle, surrounded by a thick black circle, surrounded by another thin bluish-white circle. First U.S. Record

South Texas Satyr - Hodges#4574

Hermeuptychia hermybius

Identification: Distinction from H. sosybius is difficult, and as recognized here is based primarily upon geography. However, H. sosybius usually has the dark eye spots of the lower side larger, and the dark lines to either side of them less irregul

Carolina Satyr - Hodges#4575

Hermeuptychia sosybius

Identification: Adult: While still alive, eyes gray with vertical stripes. Wings dull brown with no eyespots on upperside. Underside of wings have a dark dash in the middle of each wing (may be faint), and a series of yellow-rimmed eyespots along t

Tailed Cecropian - Hodges#4546

Historis acheronta

Kimball and Neck report vague historical records from south FL and south TX respectively. Most other US field guides either omit this sp., or list it as questionable. Veryl Board and John Hafernik collected a specimen on August 13, 1969 at Shafter, P

Mangrove Buckeye - Hodges#4442.1

Junonia neildi

Identification: Dorsal, brown with eyespots on both FW and HW. Compare with Common Buckeye and Tropical Buckeye . Ventral, brownish with indistinct markings. Compare with Common Buckeye , and Tropical Buckeye. Classification of taxa in the genus Juno

Junonia zonalis - Hodges#4441.2

Junonia zonalis

Identification: "The dark coloring to the lower inside of the eye spot on the front wing, and a missing to narrow orange border on the hind wing above are characteristic of this species. A bold pale stripe on the lower hind wing and small eye spots a

Wall

Lasiommata megera

This golden brown butterfly is criss-crossed with dark lines. The male has obvious sex brands on the forewings. The Wall gets its name from the characteristic behaviour of resting with wings two-thirds open on any bare surface, including bare ground

Creole Pearly-eye - Hodges#4568.2

Lethe creola

Identification: Similar to Northern and Southern Pearly-eyes. See references.

Southern Pearly-eye - Hodges#4568

Lethe portlandia

Identification: Note orange antennal clubs. Eye-spots surronded by white band.

White Admiral

Limenitis camilla

Rare. Restricted to a few woodland sites in East of county, but possibly expanding its range

Tiger Mimic-Queen - Hodges#4617

Lycorea halia

The subspecies atergatis occasionally strays from Mexico into southern Texas.

Meadow Brown

Maniola jurtina

The Meadow Brown is one of our commonest and most widespread butterflies and a familiar sight across the British Isles during the summer months. This is a brown butterfly with an orange patch on each wing surrounding a black eye spot with a single wh

Many-banded Daggerwing - Hodges#4549

Marpesia chiron

multiple reports of large numbers of individuals, all travelling in one direction, reported from multiple countries from Mexico to S. Amer.

Waiter Daggerwing - Hodges#4548

Marpesia zerynthia

Brock & Kaufman, "rare stray to south Texas" Bordelon & Knudson, "very rare stray to TX, not reported from the valley, so far." Neck, "rare stray to Rio Grande Valley, Far West [Texas]" Scott, "rare stray to w and s Tex. (July, Oct.) Howe, "El Paso,

Red Satyr - Hodges#4579

Megisto rubricata

Identification: Below, the adult has a red patch on the forewing (not always visible depending how wings are held). Above, red patches and one eyespot on each wing.

Marbled White

Melanargia galathea

This butterfly is unmistakable, its black and white markings distinguishing it from all other species found in the British Isles. The butterfly is found in unimproved grassland where the grass may grow up to 0.5m tall. The largest colonies are found

Tiny Checkerspot - Hodges#4511

Microtia dymas

Identification: Most like Microtia elada , differing in having no orange margin along the edge of the lower hind wing (or rarely a trace of orange in the black margin), and often with a pale to whitish spot near the middle of the front edge of the up

Elada Checkerspot - Hodges#4513

Microtia elada

Identification: Most like Microtia dymas , differing in having an orange margin along the edge of the lower hind wing, and without a whitish spot near the middle of the front edge of the front wing. [or, sometimes with most of the median spot band p

White Morpho - Hodges#4569.5

Morpho polyphemus

Several subspecies and/or forms "Morpho luna Group" Morpho polyphemus ssp. luna (syn. M. luna) Morpho polyphemus ssp. luna (var. niveina) Morpho polyphemus ssp. luna (var. albina) East coast: Yucatan of Mexico, south into Guatemala, Belize and Hondur

Mexican Bluewing - Hodges#4528

Myscelia ethusa

Identification: Upperwing pattern is unmistakeable, with parallel bands alternating black and brilliant iridescent blue, often fading to purple toward the posterior. Underwing pattern is cryptic, mottled in various shades of brown, blending in excell

Georgia Satyr - Hodges#4576

Neonympha areolatus

considered by LA and VA to be a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)

Helicta Satyr - Hodges#4576.1

Neonympha helicta

Identification: Similar to Georgia Satyr except larger, and the shape of the eye-spots on the hindwing is oval to round in Helicta, elongate in Georgia.

Mitchell's Satyr - Hodges#4577

Neonympha mitchellii

Identification: See references. Endangered. Guide TBA--PC

Chryxus Arctic - Hodges#4606

Oeneis chryxus

Identification: Variable--see guide photos and print references for details.

Speckled Wood

Pararge aegeria

The appearance of this butterfly changes from the north to the south, forming a "cline", where individuals in the north are dark brown with white spots, whilst those in more southerly locations are dark brown with orange spots. As its names suggests,

Tawny Crescent - Hodges#4482

Phyciodes batesii

Identification: Can be confused with other Phyciodes species , but distinguished by nearly mostly black antennal clubs lacking orange color [often with small white tip and/or grayish on part of underside, rarely with brownish tinge near tip]; under s

Northern Crescent - Hodges#4481.1

Phyciodes cocyta

Can often be separated from Pearl Crescent by flight season: in areas of overlap, Northern Crescent flies only in June-July and perhaps early September, whereas the Pearl Crescent produces two or more broods per year, flying all year in the southern

Vesta Crescent - Hodges#4479.1

Phyciodes graphica

Identification: Bright orange with dark lines dividing the wings up into numerous bars and cells. Lacks contrasting bands above or below wings. Some hindwings cells contain dark spots, but there are no such spots on the forewing.

Mimic Crescent - Hodges#4481.2

Phyciodes incognitus

Identification: Mimic Crescent is a recently described species that is similar to the common and widespread Pearl Crescent (P. tharos) and the Northern Crescent (P. cocyta) of the northern US/Canada. It is dubbed "Mimic" because its appearance mimics

Dotted Checkerspot - Hodges#4515

Poladryas minuta

Identification: Different distribution, more eastern, than P. arachne ; dark markings above less developed and less prominent, giving a lighter more orange appearance; below with wider orange bands, and with broken median black markings giving more o

Comma

Polygonia c-album

Looking like a tatty Small Tortoiseshell, the Comma is now a familiar sight throughout most of England and Wales and is one of the few species that is bucking the trend by expanding its range. The butterfly gets its name from the white mark on its un

Hoary Comma - Hodges#4427

Polygonia gracilis

Identification: Adult: eastern subspecies best distinguished by dark inner part of underside of wings, contrasting strongly with gray, "hoary" outer part; hindwing upperside with bright yellow spots in dark wing margin; silver comma on underside of h

Gray Comma - Hodges#4429

Polygonia progne

Identification: Upperside is bright orange-brown; summer form has hindwing with a wide dark border, winter form has the border covering only about 1/4 of the wing; both enclosing a few small yellow spots. Underside is charcoal gray with fine dark str

Broad-tipped Clearwing - Hodges#4617.2

Pteronymia cotytto

First U.S. Record: National Butterfly Center, Mission, Hidalgo Co., Texas - 2004 (Bordelon & Knudson 2006)

Gatekeeper

Pyronia tithonus

The Gatekeeper has gold wings on a brown background. The black eye spot on the upper wings has two characteristic white 'pupils'. This butterfly spends much of its time basking with wings open, when the sexes are easy to tell apart - only the male ha

Blomfild's Beauty - Hodges#4547.1

Smyrna blomfildia

Identification: The underside of the hindwing has a series of eyespots near the outer edge and a psychedelic-looking arrangement of lines and shapes in white and brown. Two small triangular "tails" project off the rear outside corner. The wings are t

Karwinski's Beauty - Hodges#4547

Smyrna karwinskii

Identification: Nearly identical to Blomfild's Beauty (S. blomfildia) but has one or no little black triangular tails on the underside of the trailing corner of the hindwing, where Blomfild's has two. Never confirmed in the US but occurs very close t

Adiaste Fritillary - Hodges#4458.1

Speyeria adiaste

Identification: Easily identified by where found, broad squarish wings, pale coloring with relatively delicate black patterning above and barely contrasting pattern on a tan ventral. Closely related to S. hydaspe and displacing it to the south. Quit

Dark Green Fritillary

Speyeria aglaja

It gets its name from the green hue found on the underside of the hindwings, which are peppered with large silver spots. Calcareous grassland habitats, frequently stopping to nectar on Thistles and Knapweed.

Edwards' Fritillary - Hodges#4454

Speyeria edwardsii

Identification: Upperside of both wings tawny orange with black border and markings. Underside green or gray-green with narrow buff submarginal band and metallic silver markings.

Great Basin Fritillary - Hodges#4458

Speyeria egleis

Subspecies are sometimes not separable except by knowing locality found. The value and extent of application of some names (as true in many Speyeria species) can be debated, as geographically adjacent subspecies often tend to be extremely similar, a

Regal Fritillary - Hodges#4452

Speyeria idalia

Identification: "Large. Upperside of forewing bright red-orange with black markings. Upperside of hindwing black with postmedian row of white spots; submarginal row of spots is orange in male and white in female." "Rapidly vanishing or declining in m

Painted Lady

Vanessa cardui

A newly emerged adult is flushed with a beautiful salmon-pink and is a most-beautiful insect. This colouring, however, fades rapidly with the passage of time. The species has slightly pointed wing tips and the white marks on the black tips of the for

California Sister Butterfly

Adelpha californica

Smooth-banded Sister Butterfly

Adelpha cytherea

Milbert's Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Aglais milberti

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

Agraulis vanilliae

Goatweed Leafwing Butterfly

Anaea andria

Banded Peacock / Princesa Roja

Anartia fatima

White Peacock Butterfly

Anartia jatrophae