Butterflies of Northeast Iowa

1. Northeast Iowa butterflies
Winneshiek County Conservation Board
Northeast Iowa
Butterflies
Winneshiek County Conservation Board

2. Wildflower field
Wildflower fields are wonderful places for butterflies.
Wildflower fields are wonderful places for butterflies.

3. Tiger swallowtail – a fantastic “flying flower”Tiger swallowtail – a
fantastic “flying
flower”
Tiger swallowtail – a
fantastic “flying
flower”!

4. Tiger swallowtail – ventral view
Tiger swallowtails are big and mostly yellow.
Tiger swallowtail –
ventral view
Tiger swallowtails are
big and mostly
yellow.
Tiger swallowtail –
ventral view
Tiger swallowtails are
big and mostly
yellow.
Tiger swallowtail –
ventral view
Tiger swallowtails are
big and mostly yellow.

5. Tiger swallowtails show up
when the lilacs bloom.

6. Woodlands are home to tiger swallowtails in summer.

7. Tiger swallowtail caterpillars look like strange creatures from outer
space.
Tiger swallowtail caterpillars look like strange creatures from outer
space.

8. Tiger swallowtails search for ash trees to lay their eggs.

9. Tiger swallowtail caterpillars eat ash tree leaves out in the woods.Tiger
swallowtail
caterpillars
eat ash tree
leaves out in
the woods.
Tiger swallowtail caterpillars eat ash tree leaves out in the woods.

10. Giant swallowtail – the biggest butterfly in NE Iowa.

11. Giant swallowtail caterpillars are
called “orange puppies” down South,
as they eat orange tree leaves
Giant swallowtail caterpillars are
called “orange puppies” down South,
as they eat orange tree leaves
Giant swallowtail caterpillars are called “orange puppies” down
South, as they eat orange tree leaves.

12. Or else show off their
orange “devil horns” when
threatened.
Or else show off their
orange “devil horns” when
threatened.
Or else show off their orange “devil horns” when threatened.

13. Giant swallowtail caterpillars eat prickly ash up here.

14. Giant swallowtails are shot with shotguns down South to protect citrus crops. Safe around
here, they’re about half black and half yellow.

15. Black swallowtail – male has fewer yellow markings than giant swallowtail.

16. Black swallowtail – female shows less yellow and more blue.
Black swallowtails are mostly black.

17. Black swallowtail caterpillars can sometimes be found in the garden,
crawling around on carrots or dill.
Black swallowtail
caterpillars can
sometimes be found in
the garden, crawling
around on carrots or dill.

18. Black swallowtail caterpillars show orange “devil horns” when scared.

19. In they wild they eat Queen- Anne’s lace (wild carrot).

20. Red-spotted purple – looks like a black swallowtail without the tails.

21. Red-spotted purple – ventral view. Note all the red spots.
Red-spotted purples appear in mid-June.

22. Red-spotted purple caterpillars look like disgusting bird droppings.

23. Red-spotted purple
caterpillars feed on
hawthorn leaves

24. Hawthorn has both haws and thorns!

25. Hawthorn trees have a stunted, rugged yet still picturesque
silhouette out in the countryside.

26. White admiral – this is a red-spotted purple form found up in northern
Minnesota and Wisconsin, sometimes showing up here in NE Iowa.

27. Mourning cloaks are called Camberwell beauties in the British Isles.

28. Mourning cloak – ventral view
In pioneer America, country kids called them yellow-edged butterflies.

29. Mourning cloak – out early in spring, usually by late March after
overwintering as an adult under some loose tree bark.

30. Mourning cloak caterpillars are
spiny little critters with red legs.
Mourning cloak
caterpillars are spiny little
critters with red legs.
Mourning cloak
caterpillars are spiny little
critters with red legs.

31. Mourning cloak caterpillars eat those sandpapery elm leaves.

32. Question mark – also known as the violet tip butterfly for those tiny
purple tails. One of the larger leaf mimic butterflies.

33. Question mark punctuation can be seen only from the bottom
(ventral) side.

34. Look for question marks in woodland habitat where there’s lots of
dead tree leaves.

35. Question mark caterpillars are quite a colorful handful.

36. Question mark caterpillars are fond of red elm leavesQuestion mark caterpillars
are fond of slippery (red)
elm leaves.

37. The eastern comma is a question mark cousin. They tend to be slightly
smaller in size. Eastern commas overwinter as adults in woodpiles.
The eastern comma is a question mark cousin. They tend to be slightly
smaller in size. Eastern commas overwinter as adults in woodpiles.

38. The eastern comma showing that tiny silver comma. Eastern commas
show a washy brownish cast from the bottom side.

39. Eastern comma caterpillars come to the table well-armed.

40. Eastern comma
caterpillars eat elm
tree leaves too.
Eastern comma
caterpillars eat elm
tree leaves too.

41. An eastern
comma chrysalis
shows why this
“anglewing” is
also called the
hop merchant.
When those
golden spots on
the case stand
out
conspicuously,
hop farmers will
get a high price
for their crop –
much gold.
Hops leaves are
another food
source.

42. Gray commas look a lot like eastern commas. Check the ventral view
to confirm the difference.

43. Gray comma punctuation on a background of distinct gray strips or
stripes.

44. Gray comma caterpillars could puncture your skin.

45. Gray comma caterpillars feast on gooseberry plant leaves.

46. Milbert’s tortoiseshell shows a wide bright orange band on its back.

47. Milbert’s tortoiseshell – ventral view. Very dull.

48. Milbert’s tortoiseshell caterpillars are quite dark in color.
Milbert’s tortoiseshell caterpillars are quite dark in color.

49. Milbert’s tortoiseshell caterpillars dare to eat stinging nettle leaves!

50. Compton tortoiseshell – not nearly as common as its cousin.

51. Compton tortoiseshell – ventral view.

52. Compton tortoiseshell
caterpillars show more
color.Compton tortoiseshell
caterpillars show more
color.
Compton tortoiseshell
caterpillars show a bit
more color.

53. Compton tortoiseshell habitat – “quakies”
Compton tortoiseshell habitat – a quaking aspen stand – “quakies”.

54. Compton tortoiseshell caterpillars munch on quaking aspen leaves,
that turn golden-colored in autumn

55. The red admiral has red stripes running up into the forewing.

56. Red admiral – ventral view
More color showing here than on Milbert’s tortoiseshell.

57. Red admirals flutter around sunny woodland glades. They blow north
early in the spring from Southern wintering sites.

58. Red admiral caterpillars are tough little characters.

59. Red admiral caterpillars chow down on wood nettle leaves.

60. The painted lady has more orange when compared to the red admiral.
The painted lady has more orange when compared to the red adm
The painted lady has more orange
when compared to the red admiral.

61. Painted lady – a cosmopolitan traveler. Found worldwide, but blows
north into Iowa from down South in spring and summer.

62. Painted lady caterpillars are thorny little things.Painted lady caterpillars are thorny little things.

63. Painted lady caterpillars do good by defoliating thistle plants.

64. Painted lady (ventral view).
Look close here for the five small eyes on the hind wing.
Painted lady
(ventral view)
Look close here
for the five
small eyes on
the hind wing.

65. American lady (ventral view). Note the two big eyes on the hind wing.

66. American ladies are not very common compared to painted ladies.

67. American lady caterpillars are pretty dangerous lookingAmerican lady caterpillars are pretty dangerous lookingAmerican lady caterpillars are pretty dangerous looking!

68. American lady caterpillars can be found around their favorite food
plant – pussytoes.

69. Great-spangled FritillaryThe great-spangled fritillary is a big, all orange butterfly.

70. Great-spangled fritillary (ventral view). Count the butterfly money.

71. Great-spangled fritillary caterpillars are well protected.

72. Great-spangled fritillary caterpillars love violets.

73. The aphrodite fritillary is found only on prairie - small spot on inner
dorsal forewing is key to ID
The aphrodite fritillary is found only on prairie - small spot on inner
dorsal forewing is key to ID
The aphrodite fritillary is found only on prairies - small spot on inner
dorsal forewing is key to ID.

74. The aphrodite fritillary – ventral view.

75. Aphrodite fritillary habitat would be good old Iowa prairie.

76. Aphrodite fritillary caterpillars can be found in the spring after
violets are blooming on the prairie.
Aphrodite fritillary caterpillars can be found in the spring after violets
are blooming on the prairie.

77. Aphrodite fritillary caterpillars would be looking for birdsfoot violets.

78. Meadow fritillaries are much smaller than great-spangled fritillaries.

79. Meadow fritillary – ventral view. No butterfly money here.Meadow fritillary – ventral view. No butterfly money here.

80. Meadow fritillary habitat would be a wet prairie meadow.

81. Meadow fritillary caterpillars search for violets just like their cousins.

82. Prairie violets are perfect food for meadow fritillaries.

83. The regal fritillary is a really rare and beautiful find.

84. Regal Fritillary –
ventral view
Regal fritillary –ventral view.
Regal fritillary –
ventral view

85. Look for regal fritillaries where you find blazing stars blooming in
August, otherwise seen as a high quality prairie.

86. Regal fritillary caterpillars crawl around on the prairie in late spring.
Regal fritillary caterpillars crawl around on the prairie in
late spring.
Regal fritillary caterpillars crawl around o
late spring.

87. Regal fritillary caterpillars home in on those obligate violets.
As a rule, fritillaries feed on violets at night and hide during the day.

88. Great-spangled fritillary nectaring on milkweed. Fritillaries are often
mistaken for another orange butterfly found around milkweed plants.
Great-spangled
fritillary nectaring on
milkweed. Fritillaries
are often mistaken for
another orange
butterfly found around
milkweed plants.

89. Monarch male (with pouches)
Monarch male (with pheromone pouches).

90. Monarch female (without pouches). Her scent glands are found on her
abdomen.
Monarch female (without pouches). Her scent glands are found on her
abdomen.

91. Monarch – ventral view is duller orange.

92. The famous striped monarch caterpillar dining on a milkweed leaf.

93. Monarchs aren’t fussy about the milkweed their caterpillars choose to
chew on, like this swamp milkweed here, but they only eat the various
milkweed species.
Monarchs aren’t fussy about the milkweed their caterpillars choose to
chew on, like this swamp milkweed here, but they only eat the various
milkweed species.
Monarchs aren’t fussy about the milkweed their caterpillars choose to
chew on, like this swamp milkweed here, but they only eat the various
milkweed species.

94. Monarchs make their pale green chrysalis on a nearby plant, in this
case a grass stem.

95. Monarchs key in on blazing stars as a nectar source in the fall as they
migrate south.

96. Monarch migration roost. They winter in Mexico, up in the mountains.

97. Monarch wearing a tag which helps track their movements as they
work their way south.

98. In the past 20 years, monarchs have declined from 1 billion to 30 million.

99. Viceroy – a monarch mimic. Note the black line on the hind wing.

100. Monarch for comparison. Note the lack of black bands cutting
through the hind wings on this female, nectaring here on an aster
flower in the fall.
Monarch for comparison. Note the lack of black bands cutting
through the hind wings on this female, nectaring here on a butterly
milkweed flower.

101. Viceroy – ventral view.
Viceroy – ventral view

102. Viceroy caterpillars look like bird droppings.

103. Viceroy caterpillars could be found around this bright willow bat,
since they eat willow leaves in wetlands. areas.

104. Bronze
copper –
about the
size of a
penny.
Bronze
copper –
about the size
of a penny.

105. Bronze copper – ventral
view
Bronze copper –
ventral view.

106. Bronze copper caterpillar – looks a lot like a leaf midrib.

107. Bronze copper caterpillars chow down on curly dock.

108. American ??? copper – strange name since they’re non-native and
came from Europe.
American ??? copper –
strange name since
they’re non-native and
came from Europe.
American copper – strange name
since they’re non-native and came
from Europe.

109. American copper –ventral view & note dark outer wing band on
forewing.

110. American copper caterpillar, tended by ants that defend theAmerican copper caterpillar, tended by ants that defend the
caterpillar in return for sugary secretions.

111. Look for American coppers to be flying around sunny wildflower
fields in summer.
Look for American coppers to be flying around sunny
wildflower fields in summer.

112. American copper caterpillars feed on red sorrel leaves.

113. Pearl crescent – another small orange butterfly, with a silver or pearl
wing border.

114. Pearl crescent –ventral view.
Pearl crescent –ventral
views

115. Pearl crescent caterpillar.

116. Pearl crescent caterpillars eat aster leaves, sky blue here.

117. Baltimore checkerspot is positively beautiful!!

118. Baltimore checkerspot –ventral viewBaltimore checkerspot –ventral view

119. Baltimore checkerspots are very rare
and only found in fen habitats
Baltimore checkerspots are very rare
and only found in fen habitats.

120. Baltimore checkerspot caterpillarBaltimore checkerspot caterpillar.

121. TurtleheadTurtlehead is the only plant Baltimore checkerspot caterpillars eat.

122. The beautiful Buckeye
The beautiful buckeyeThe beautiful
buckeye.

123. Buckeyes have big showy eyespots.

124. Buckeye –ventral view of a mating pair.

125. Buckeye caterpillar – a thorny little critter.
Buckeye caterpillar – a thorny
little critter.

126. Plantain, that
little weed that
grows along
sidewalk paths,
is on the
buckeye
caterpillar’s
food list.
Plantain, that little weed that grows along sidewalk paths, is on
the buckeye caterpillar’s food list.

127. Hackberry emperor – a dull colored woodland butterfly.

128. Hackberry emperor – ventral view.
Hackberry emperor –
ventral view

129. “Hackberry” habitat
“Hackberry” habitat
“Hackberry” habitat.

130. Hackberry emperor caterpillar – eats those hackberry
tree leaves.

131. Hackberry
leaf – looks a
lot like an
elm leaf.

132. Hackberry tree trunk – the bark is very corky.

133. Hackberry butterflies have a habit of landing on your
shoulder when you hike down a shaded woodland trail.
Especially common in mid-August.
Hackberry butterflies have a habit of landing on your
shoulder when you hike down a shaded woodland trail.
Especially common in mid-August.

134. Resting Hackberry emperor, though they can dart away
very quickly.
Resting hackberry
emperor, though
they can dart away
very quickly.
Resting hackberry
emperor, though
they can dart away
very quickly.

135. Tawny emperor – forewings are more tawny or orange-
brown than the hackberry emperor. Much less common
in the woods as well.
Tawny emperor – forewings are more tawny or orange-
brown than the hackberry emperor. Much less common
in the woods as well.

136. Tawny
emperor –
ventral view
Tawny emperor –ventral view.

137. Tawny emperor caterpillar.

138. Tawny emperor caterpillars also eat hackberry leaves.

139. The northern pearly eye is even drabber than emperors,
being mostly grayish brown with those black eyespots.

140. Northern pearly eye – ventral view - see the pearls?

141. Northern pearly eyes prefer sunny woodland habitats.
Expect to find pearly eyes by early July.

142. Northern pearly eye caterpillar.Northern pearly eye caterpillar looks like a grass blade.

143. Northern pearly eye caterpillars eat woodland grasses,
like this bottlebrush grass.

144. Eyed brown. This butterfly resembles a pearly eye, but
they live in different habitats. Also, their ventral
eyespot outlines are different.
Eyed brown. This butterfly resembles a pearly eye, but
they live in different habitats. Also, their ventral
eyespot outlines are different.

145. Eyed Brown
Eyed brown – ventral view.
Eyed brown –
ventral view

146. Eyed browns are found in sunny prairie habitats.
Mid-July is the peak flight season for eyed browns.

147. The eyed brown caterpillar looks like a grass blade too.

148. Look for eyed brown caterpillars to be dining on
tussock sedge leaves in the summertime.

149. Little wood–satyr - note fewer spots on those wings.
Little wood–satyr
note fewer spots

150. Little wood–satyr ventral view.

151. Little wood–satyr caterpillars look like a little brown
bump on a grass blade.

152. Little wood–satyr caterpillars like to chew on native
grasses like Indiangrass growing along the woods edge.

153. Common wood nymph – flies during early July.

154. Wood
Nymph
Common wood nymph –ventral view.
Once known as the blue-eyed grayling.
Common wood nymph –ventral view.
Once known as the blue-eyed grayling.
Common wood nymph –
ventral view.
Once known as the blue-
eyed grayling.

155. Wet
woodland
meadow
Common wood
nymphs can be
found flying
around the
woodland margins
Common wood
nymphs can be
found flying
around the sunny
woodland margins.

156. Look for common wood nymph caterpillars to be
crawling around on grass leaves, mostly at night.

157. Common wood nymph caterpillars would be fond of
deertongue grass out in the woods.

158. Olive hairstreak – note their little hairlike tails.
Olive hairstreak – note their little hair-like tails.

159. Olive hairstreaks are found around red cedar trees.

160. Check for olive hairstreaks along the Upper Iowa River’s
cedar-covered bluffs.

161. Olive hairstreak caterpillars blend in beautifully with
their food host – red cedar tree needles (leaves).

162. Red cedar trees up close.

163. Acadian hairstreaks also have those tiny trailing hairs
on their gray hind wings.
Acadian hairstreaks
also have those tiny
trailing hairs on
their gray hind
wings.

164. Acadian hairstreak caterpillars like the taste of willow
leaves. Look for adults to be laying eggs around swampy
willow habitat in August.

165. Willow trees grow in wet areas. Acadian hairstreaks
should be around in good numbers by early July.

166. Eastern tailed-blue
Eastern tailed-blue – a tiny butterfly!

167. Eastern tailed-blue – ventral view
Note the little orange “eyes” meant to trick a bird into
attacking the tail end.

168. Eastern tailed-blue caterpillar – looks like a hairy slug.

169. Look for eastern tailed-blue caterpillars around clover –
a main food source, white clover shown here.

170. Eastern tailed-blues are pretty little puddlers.

171. Summer azure – surprisingly, one of the first butterflies
to show up in springtime, usually early April. Tail-less.

172. Summer azure – ventral view. Common in midsummer.

173. Summer azure caterpillars are bumpy little creatures.

174. Purple
Prairie
clover
Summer azure caterpillars seek out redosier dogwood
leaves.

175. Skippers are small, quick and confusing little
butterflies. Many kinds can be found in Iowa.

176. Common checkered skippers are fairly common and
fairly easy to identify.

177. Common checkered skipper caterpillars look like a little
piece of spaghetti.

178. Common checkered skipper caterpillars like cheeses.

179. Silver-spotted skipper – another obvious easy one.
Silver-spotted skipper – another obvious
easy one

180. Silver-spotted Skipper
Silver-spotted skippers prefer an oak savannah habitat
Silver-spotted skippers prefer an oak savannah habitat.

181. Check out the odd orange eyes on this silver-spotted
skipper caterpillar.

182. Silver-spotted skipper caterpillars seek out legumes like
leadplant.
Silver-spotted skipper
caterpillars seek out
legumes like leadplant

183. Columbine duskywing – can you guess the wildflower
this butterfly will be found flying around in late spring?

184. Here’s a columbine duskywing caterpillar that would be
chewing away on those mystery flower’s leaves.

185. Columbine blooms in mid-May.
Columbine

186. Orange sulphur – male is “orange-yellow”.
Also note the wide black wing borders.

187. Orange sulphur male – ventral view.

188. Orange
sulpher
Orange sulphur – classic female form shows light
speckles breaking up that black backlit border.
Orange sulphur – classic female form shows light
speckles breaking up that black backlit border.

189. Orange sulphur caterpillar blends right into green leaves.

190. Orange
sulphurs
are known
as “alfalfa”
butterflies,
as that’s
where their
eggs are
laid and
the
caterpillars
feed.
One of our
most
common
butterflies.
Orange sulphurs are known as
“alfalfa” butterflies, as that’s
where their eggs are laid and the
caterpillars feed. One of our
most common butterflies.

191. Clouded sulphur – male is more bleached yellow.

192. Clouded sulphur – this white, or abinic, female form
shows a silver hindwing spot that tells us its not a
cabbage white butterfly.
Clouded sulphur – this white, or abinic, female form
shows a silver hindwing spot that tells us its not a
cabbage white butterfly.

193. Clouded sulphur caterpillar crawling on sensitive plant.

194. Clouded sulphur caterpillars eat sensitive plant leaves.

195. Sulphur butterflies & cabbage whites congregate along
roadsides in late summer, especially beside mudpuddles
after a rain.

196. Cabbage white – no ring on hindwing. Cabbage whites
can be found flying around from April to October.

197. Cabbage whites may be the most common butterflies we
see around the yard, and especially the garden.

198. Where to find the cabbage white!

199. Not what you want to see on your cabbage plants.

200. Cabbage white caterpillars aren’t fussy, feasting as well
on plants in the mustard family.

201. Butterflies love native flowers like pale purple
coneflower. Grow as many different kinds as you can
around the garden or out in the back yard.
Butterflies love native flowers like pale purple
coneflower. Grow as many different kinds as you can
around the garden or out in the back yard.

202. Least skippers on swamp milkweed.
Plant the pretty flowers and the butterflies will come!