Whole Document Navigator (Click Here)    ---------------------------------- Top of Document Background -Butterfly Facts and Biology -Adult Butterfly Resources -Larval Resources -Planning Your Garden --Your Butterfly Region Map --Your Butterfly Region Table(s) --Keys to using the tables --Keys to the tables Selected References Footnotes Disclaimer Copyright Infomation

Butterfly Gardening in Florida¹

Jaret C. Daniels, Joe Schaefer, Craig N. Huegel, and Frank J. Mazzotti²

Background

Planting a butterfly garden is a great way to beautify your yard and help attract many of the different butterflies found in Florida. Most butterfly gardens are also a magnet for hummingbirds and beneficial insects. A productive butterfly garden does not require a large land area--even a few key plants can make a huge impact.

Whether confined to a patio container or sprawled over several acres, a butterfly garden can be as simple or as complex as you wish to make it. The same basic concepts apply, regardless of the size. The most important thing to understand is that different butterfly species have different requirements, and these requirements change throughout their life cycles. A well-planned butterfly garden should appeal to many different butterflies and also cater to both the adults and their larvae (caterpillars). Proper garden design and choice of plants are essential. Such decisions will help influence which butterflies are attracted, remain in the area, and reproduce there.

The total butterfly garden takes into account the food preferences of both adult butterflies and their larvae (caterpillars). Most adult butterflies feed on flower nectar and will be attracted to a wide variety of different flowers. Their larvae (caterpillars), though, rely on specific plants called host plants for food and are often greatly limited in the number of plants on which they can feed. Host plants may also provide shelter, camouflage, chemicals used for protection, courtship, and reproduction. It is not necessary to include larval host plants to attract butterflies, but adults tend to stay fairly close to the areas where their larval food plants can be found.

All of this requires planning. There are a few basic rules to follow. You can be as creative as you wish, but you must start with a plan that considers the requirements of the butterflies you wish to attract and the plants you will use to lure them.

Butterfly gardening is an exacting (not difficult) pursuit and must be based on butterfly preferences--not human ones. Luckily, butterfly and human favorites are mostly compatible.

Butterfly Facts and Biology

There are more than 765 species of butterflies found in North America north of Mexico. Florida boasts over 180 verified butterfly species representing some 170 native or newly established species and 17 tropical vagrants. Within that mix, around 40 are considered either unique to the state or occur mostly within its boundaries. This diverse butterfly fauna is the highest of any state east of the Mississippi River and helps make Florida a premier location for butterfly gardeners.

All butterflies have a life cycle consisting of four distinct stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. Female butterflies lay their eggs on or near an appropriate larval host plant. The eggs typically hatch within a few days and the small larvae begin to feed. Butterfly larvae have enormous appetites and grow rapidly. To accommodate the change in proportions, each larva will molt or shed its skin several times. The appearance of the larva may change after each molt. When fully grown, the larva seeks a sheltered place. It typically attaches itself with silk to a leaf or twig and it molts for the last time into the pupa. During this stage, the once worm-like caterpillar transforms into a winged adult.

Adult Butterfly Resources

Most adult butterflies found in Florida rely on flower nectar for food. While many tend to be attracted to a variety of available brightly colored blossoms, different butterfly species have distinct color preferences, feeding behaviors, and proboscis lengths. (The butterfly's proboscis is like a long coiled straw used to sip liquid nectar from flowers.) These factors help determine which flowers a butterfly visits. As a rule, small butterflies nectar from small flowers and large butterflies nectar from larger ones. Some butterflies flutter like a hummingbird while feeding, pausing only briefly at each flower. They can often gain access to nectar in long tubular blossoms. Others rest for some time on each blossom. A wide mix of flower colors, shapes, and sizes provides appealing and accessible food to a greater number of butterfly species. It also makes your garden more eye-catching.

Adults of some butterfly species rarely or never visit flowers. They feed instead on tree sap, or the fermenting juices from rotting fruit or plant material, animal dung (droppings), and dead animal remains.

Larval Resources

Larval (caterpillar) host plants are also key ingredients to any well-designed butterfly garden. They are often not as showy as nectar plants, nor are they even necessary to attract adult butterflies. But a garden without larval host plants ignores the requirements of the butterfly's life cycle. While nectar plants invite butterflies into your garden, host plants offer them a reason to stay and reproduce.

Unlike nectar plants though, larval host plants must be tailored to individual butterfly species. So, unless you have acres of land at your disposal, you will need to be selective in your plant choice. Remember also that larval host plants are meant to be eaten. You will see damaged leaves or even some plants that are completely defoliated. Keep in mind that this is a good thing. It means that your butterfly garden is being productive. Within no time, most plants will recover and soon be able to support new larvae. Lastly, don't forget that butterfly larvae feed exclusively on their host plants. They will not cause damage to other landscape plants or become horrible garden pests.

Be careful when buying larval host plants as many nurseries use pesticides. These chemicals can be deadly to butterfly larvae. When in doubt, always ask if the plants you wish to purchase have been treated with pesticides. Similarly, be very careful when using pesticides in your garden. If you must use chemicals to control pest insects, use them sparingly and only treat the infected plant.

Planning Your Garden

Planting a productive butterfly garden is not hard, but it does require proper planning and a little basic research. Although Florida boasts over 180 different butterflies, you can't attract species that do not naturally occur in your region, nor can you grow plants that aren't adapted to the soils and climate in your region. To help get started, follow these easy steps to plan your garden.

Your Butterfly Region Map

Look at the map provided ( Figure 1 ) and determine the region in which you live.

Your Butterfly Region Table(s)

Then, look for your region in the Florida butterflies tables (Tables 1-6), highlight the species that occur in your area, and use habitats that can be found within 1/4 mile of the site you are considering for your butterfly garden.

Butterfly nectar plants by region. Table 7 lists butterfly nectar plants for North and Central Florida (regions 1-4). Table 8 lists butterfly nectar plants for South Florida (regions 5-7).

Keys to using the tables

Determine the larval and adult foods for each species from the tables. Butterflies tend to stay fairly close to the areas where their natural larval food plants can be found.

The "flight season" indicates the months when the adults are active.

Note: If you are not interested in trying to attract the greatest variety of butterflies, you can select plants from the butterfly nectar sources listed at the end of this publication. This approach will help you to create a beautiful garden that also is appealing to some butterfly species.

Keys to the tables

Table 1 . Swallowtails (Family Papilionidae)

Table 2 . Whites and Sulphurs (Family Pieridae)

Table 3 . Gossamer-wing Butterflies (Family Lycaenidae)

Table 4 . Metalmark Butterflies (Family Riodinidae)

Table 5 . Brush-footed Butterflies (Family Nymphalidae)

Table 6 . Skippers (Family Hesperiidae)

Table 7 . Butterfly Nectar Plants. North and Central Florida: Regions 1 - 4.

Table 8 . Butterfly Nectar Plants. South Florida: Regions 5 - 7.

Selected References

Allen, T. J., Brock, J. P. and J. Glassberg. 2005. Caterpillars in the Field and Garden: A Field Guide to Butterfly Caterpillars of North America. Oxford University Press, 240 pp.

Cech, R. and G. Tudor. 2007. Butterflies of the East Coast: An Observer's Guide. Princeton University Press. 360 pp.

Daniels, J.C. 2000. Your Florida Guide to Butterfly Gardening: A Guide for the Deep South. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. 104 pp.

Daniels, J. C. 2003. Butterflies of Florida Field Guide. Adventure Publications, Cambridge, Minnesota. 250 pp.

Gerberg, E. J., and R. H. Arnett, Jr. 1989. Florida Butterflies. Natural Science Publications, Inc., Baltimore. 90 pp.

Glassberg, J., Minno, M. C. and J. V. Calhoun. 2000. Butterflies through Binoculars: A Field, Finding, and Gardening Guide to Butterflies in Florida. Oxford University Press. 256 pp.

Minno, M. C., Butler, J. F. and D. W. Hall. 2005. Florida Butterfly Caterpillars and Their Host Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. 341 pp.

Minno, M. C. and M. Minno. 1999. Florida Butterfly Gardening: A Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Butterflies. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. 224 pp.

Tables

Table 1.

Table 1. Swallowtails (Family Papilionidae)
SPECIES	REGIONS	HABITATS	FLIGHT SEASON
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)	1-6	fields, gardens, wetlands, woodlands	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous plants and vines (Aristolochiaceae) including Virginia Snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria) and Woolly Dutchman's Pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Polydamus Swallowtail (Battus polydamus)	2-7	disturbed areas, urban parks, gardens, fields	All year
Larval Host Plants: Native and non-native vines (Aristolochiaceae) including Woolly Dutchman's Pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa) and Calico Flower (Aristolochia littoralis)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus)	1-6	scrubs, woodlands, fields, pastures	Feb-Dec
Larval Host Plants: Shrub Annonaceae--Pawpaw (Asimina spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar. Adults have short proboscis
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)	1-7	wetlands, open areas, gardens, fields, roadsides	Feb-Nov
Larval Foods: Herbaceous plants--wild and cultivated Apiaceae including Sweet Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), and Mock Bishopsweed (Ptilimnium capillaceum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Giant Swallowtail (Heraclides [Papilio] cresphontes)	1-7	open areas, forest margins, citrus groves	Feb-Nov
Larval Foods: Shrubs and Trees (Rutaceae) including Common Hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata), Wild Lime (Zanthoxylum fagara), Hercules-club (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis), and cultivated citrus (Citrus spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Schaus' Swallowtail (Heraclides [Papilio] aristodemus ponceanus) - endangered (federal and state)	6-7	tropical hardwood hammocks	May-July
Larval Host Plants: Trees--(Rutaceae) including Torchwood (Amyris elemifera) and Wild Lime (Zanthoxylum fagara)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)	1-6	woodlands, forest margins, stream corridors, parks, gardens	Mar-Nov
Larval Foods: Trees--Ash (Fraxinus spp.), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera), Sweetbay (magnolia virginiana)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)	1-7	forest margins, wetlands, fields, gardens	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Bays (Persea spp.), Sassafras (Sassafras albidum); Shrubs - Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Palamedesl Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes)	1-6	swamps, wetlands, woodlands, forest margins	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Bays (Persea spp.) including Red Bay (Persea borbonia)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar

Table 2.

Table 2. Whites and Sulphurs (Family Pieridae)
SPECIES	REGIONS	HABITATS	FLIGHT SEASON
Florida White (Appias drusilla)	5-7	tropical hardwood hammocks	All year
Larval Host Plants: Shrubs--Bayleaf Capertree (Capparis flexuosa) and Guiana Plum (Drypetes lateriflora)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Checkered White (Pontia protodice)	1-7	disturbed sites, fields, roadsides, fallow agricultural land	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--Mustards (Brassicaceae) including Virginia Peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)	1-7	gardens, fields, disturbed sites, roadsides	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--wild and cultivated Brassicaceae including Virginia Peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum), Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Great Southern White (Ascia monuste)	2-7	beaches, salt marshes, coastal strand, disturbed sites	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--Virginia Peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum), Saltwort (Batis maritima), Coastal Searocket (Cakile lanceolata); Shrubs--Bayleaf Capertree (Capparis flexuosa)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)	1-7	open areas, roadsides, disturbed sites, alfalfa fields	Mar-Dec
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--(Fabaceae) including White Sweetclover (Melilotus albus) and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia)	1-6	sandhills, scrub, flatwoods	All year - adults overwinter
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous plants--Summer Farewell (Dalea pinnata); Shrubs--Bastard Indigo (Amprpha fruticosa)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Large Orange Sulphur (Phoebis agarithe)	4-7	tropical hardwood hammocks, open sites, gardens	All year
Larval Host Plants: Trees--(Fabaceae) including Florida Keys Blackbead (Pithecellobium keyense), Catclaw (Pithecellobium unguis-cati), and False Tamarind (Lysiloma latisiliquum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)	1-7	open areas, gardens, beaches, parks	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants and shrubs--(Fabaceae) including Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), Sensitive Pea (Chamaecrista nictitans), and various native and non-native sennas (Senna spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Orange-barred Sulfur (Phoebis philea)	2-7	gardens, parks, open areas	All year
Larval Host Plants: Shrubs and trees--(Fabaceae) including native and non-native sennas (Senna spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Lyside Sulphur (Kricogonia lyside)	5-7	coastal strand, gardens, beaches	Mar-Nov
Larval Foods: Trees--Lignumvitae (Guajacum sanctum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Statira Sulphur (Aphrissa [Phoebis] statira)	3-7	coastal areas, wetlands, gardens	All year
Larval Host Plants: Shrubs--Coinvine (Dalbergia ecastaphyllum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Barred Yellow (Eurema daira)	1-7	beaches, scrub, disturbed areas, fields, roadsides, fallow agricultural land	All year - adults overwinter
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous plants--(Fabaceae) including Pencil flower (Stylosanthes biflora), Shyleaf (Aeschynomene americana) and Sticky Jointvetch (Aeschynomene viscidula)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Little Yellow (Eurema lisa)	1-7	disturbed areas, open areas, open woodlands, scrubs, fields	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous plants--(Fabaceae) including Partridge Pea (Chamaerista fasciculata) and Sensitive Pea (Chamaecrista nictitans)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Dina Yellow (Eurema dina)	6-7	tropical hardwood hammock margins and adjacent open areas	All year
Larval Foods: Shrubs and Trees--(Picramniaceae) including Mexican Alvaradoa (Alvaradoa amorphoides)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Mimosa Yellow (Eurema nise)	6-7	forest margins	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants and Trees--(Fabaceae) including Sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) and False Tamarind (Lysiloma latisilquum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)	1-7	fields, forest margins, scrub, sandhills, roadsides, fallow agricultural land	All year - adults overwinter
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--(Fabaceae) including Sicklepod Senna (Senna obtusifolia)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Dainty Sulfur (Nathalis iole)	1-7	disturbed areas, pastures, roadsides	All year
Larval Foods: Herbaceous Plants--including Spanish Needles (Bidens alba) and Indian Chickweed (Mollugo verticillata)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar

Table 3.

Table 3. Gossamer-wing Butterflies (Family Lycaenidae)
SPECIES	REGIONS	HABITATS	FLIGHT SEASON
Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius)	1-4	wetlands, swamps	Feb-Nov
Larval Host: Larvae are carnivorous and feed on Woolly Aphids that utilize Smilax spp. and Alnus spp.
Adult Food Resources: Aphid honeydew
Atala (Eumaeus atala)	5-7	tropical pine rocklands, tropical hardwood hammocks, parks, gardens	All year
Larval Host Plants: Shrubs--(Zamiaceae) including Coontie (Zamia pumila)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus)	1-5	woodlands, wetlands, adjacent open areas	All year
Larval Host Plants: Shrub--Oak Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Amethyst Hairstreak (Chlorostrymon maesites)	6-7	tropical hardwood hammocks and their margins	All year
Larval Host Plants: Unknown
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Silver-banded Hairstreak (Chlorostrymon simaethis)	6-7	tropical hardwood hammocks and their margins	All year
Larval Host Plants: Vines--(Sapindaceae) including Heartseed (Cardiospermum corindum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Coral Hairstreak (Harkenclenus [Satyrium] titus)	1	woodlands and forest margins	Mar-May
Larval Host Plants: Trees--(Rosaceae) including Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)	1-4	woodlands, scrubs, and forest margins	Feb-Apr
Larval Host Plants: Trees--including hickory (Carya spp.) and oak (Quercus spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Kings Hairstreak (Satyrium kingi)	1	woodlands, swamps	May-Jun
Larval Host Plants: Shrub--Sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops)	1-4	woodlands, forest margins	May-Jun
Larval Host Plants: Trees--(Ericaceae) including Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Red banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)	1-7	open shrubby areas, forest margins	All year
Larval Host Plants: Trees and Shrubs--Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera); Larvae feed primarily on dead leaves beneath plants
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)	1-3	fields, coastal hammocks, dunes near cedar groves	Feb-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Red Cedar (Juniperus, virginiana)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Hessels Hairstreak (Callophrys hesseli)	1	wetlands, swamps	Mar-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici)	1-3	woolands, wetlands, swamps, forest margins	Mar-Apr
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Dahoon (Ilex cassine), American Holly (Ilex opaca), and Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Adult Food Resourcs: Flower nectar
Eastern Pine Elfin (Callophrys niphon)	1-3	scrubs, oak-pine forests	Mar-Apr
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Sand Pine (Pinus clausa)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus)	1-2	sandhills	Mar-May
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous plants--(Fabaceae), Sundial Lupine (Lupinus perennis)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Southern Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)	1-5	scrubs, woodlands, forest margins	Feb-Apr
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Oaks (Quercus spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
White M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album)	1-7	scrubs, woodlands, forest margins	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Oaks (Quercus spp.) including Virginia Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) and Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)	1-7	scrubs, open woodlands, disturbed areas, roadsides, gardens	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plantss: Herbaceous plants in several families including clover (Trifolium spp.), Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), ticktrefoil (Desmodium spp.), and milkpea (Galactia spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Martial Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon martialis)	5-7	coastal areas	All year
Larval Host Plants: Shrubs--Bay cedar (Suriana maritima)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Bartram's Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon acis)	6-7	pine rocklands	All year
Larval Foods: Shrubs--Pineland Croton (Croton linearis)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon istapa)	5-7	fields	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous plants--(Malvaceae) including Bladdermallow (Herissantia crispa), fanpetals (Sida spp.), and Sleepy Morning (Waltheria indica)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Fulvous Hairstreak (Electrostrymon angelia)	5-7	disturbed sites, forest margins, coastal areas	All year
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Jamaican Dogwood (Piscidia piscipula)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Eastern Pigmy-Blue (Brephidium pseudofea)	1-7	salt marshes and tidal flats	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--Annual Glasswort (Salcornia bigelovii), Perennial Glasswort (Sarcocornia perennis)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Casius Blue (Leptotes cassius)	3-7	gardens, coastal areas, hammock margins, disturbed sites	All year
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Florida Keys Blackbead (Pithecellobium keyense); Shrubs---Leadwort (Plumbago auriculata); Herbaceous plants--milkpea (Galactia spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Miami Blue (Cyclargus thomasi)	7	coastal areas, tropical hardwood hammock margins	All year
Larval Host Plants: Shrubs--Gray Nickerbean (Caesalpinia bonduc); Vines--Heartseed (Cardiospermum corindum.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus)	1-7	disturbed sites, roadsides, coastal areas, scrubs	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--(Fabaceae) including Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) and Sensitive Pea (Chamaecrista nictitans)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Ammon Blue (Cyclargus ammon)	7	tropical pine rocklands, coastal areas	All year
Larval Host Plants: Shrubs--Sweet Acacia (Acacia farnesiana) and Pineland Acacia (Acacia pinetorum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Eastern Tailed-Blue (Everes comyntas)	1-2	disturbed sites, forest margins	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--(Fabaceae) including clovers (Trifolium spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)	1-3	woodlands, forest margins, swamps	Feb-Mar
Larval Host plants: Flowers and fruits of various trees and shrubs including Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta)	1-3	woodland margins, swamps	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Pants: Flowers and fruits of various trees and shrubs
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar

Table 4.

Table 4. Metalmark Butterflies (Family Riodinidae)
SPECIES	REGIONS	HABITATS	FLIGHT SEASON
Little Metalmark (Calephelis virginiensis)	1-7	Wetlands, roadsides, pine savannas, open woodlands	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--Yellow Thistle (Cirsium horridulum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar

Table 5.

Table 5. Brush-footed Butterflies (Family Nymphalidae)
SPECIES	REGION	HABITATS	FLIGHT SEASON
Snout Butterfly (Libytheana carinenta)	1-6	wetlands, woodlands, forest margins, parks	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)	1-7	roadsides, disturbed sites, gardens, parks, coastal areas, forest margins	All year
Larval Host Plants: Vines--(Passifloraceae) including PurplePassionflower (Passiflora incarnata) and Corkystem Passionflower (Passiflora suberosa)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Julia (Dryas iulia)	4-7	tropical hardwood hammock margins, gardens, disturbed sites	All year
Larval Host Plants: Vines--(Passifloraceae) including Corkystem Passionflower (Passiflora suberosa)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia)	1-7	open woodlands, forest margins, gardens, parks	All year
Larval Host Plants: Vines--(Passifloraceae) including PurplePassionflower (Passiflora incarnata) and Corkystem Passionflower (Passiflora suberosa)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar and pollen
Variegated Fritillary (Eupioeta claudia)	1-7	fields, disturbed sites	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous plants and Vines--including Purple Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) and violets (Viola spp.)
Adult Food Reources: Flower nectar
Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis)	1	stream corridors, open woodlands, wetland margins	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--(Asteraceae) including Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Seminole Crescent (Anthanassa [Phyciodes] texana seminole)	1-3	wetlands, stream corridors, swamp margins	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plans: Herbaceous Plants--Waterwillow (Justicia ovata)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Cuban Crescent (Anthanassa [Phyciodes] frisia)	5-7	coastal areas, tropical hardwood hammock, margins, gardens	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--(Acanthaceae) Sixangle Foldwing (Dicliptera sexangularis)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon)	1-7	roadsides, wetlands, pond margins, wet ditches, disturbed sites	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--Turkey Tanglr Fogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)
Adult Food Rsources: Flower nectar
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)	1-6	open woodlands, fields, roadsides, disturbed sites	All year
Larval Host Resources: Herbaceous Plants--(Asteraceae) (Symphyotrichum spp.)
Adult FoodRsources: Flower nectar
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)	1-4	woodlands, forest margins	All year
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) and Winged Elm (Ulmus alata)
Adult Food Resources: Tree sap, rotting fruit
Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)	1-2	deciduous forests, wetlands, fields	All year
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Elms (Ulmus spp.); Herbaceous Plants--Nettles (Urticaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Tree sap, rotting fruit
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)	1-2	woodlands, swamps, wetlands	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Elms (Ulmus spp) and Willows (Salix spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Tree sap, rotting fruit
American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)	1-7	disturbed sites, forest margin, fields, gardens	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--(Asteraceae) Cudweeds (Gamochaeta [Gnaphalium] spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)	1-7	open woodlands, wetlands, disturbed sites	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), Florida Pellitory (Parietaria floridana), and Nettles (Urtica spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar, tree sap, and rotting fruit
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)	1-7	forest margins, roadsides, fields, disturbed sites, gardens	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--Plantain (Plantago spp.), Twinflower (Dyschoriste spp.), Toadflax (Linaria spp.), False Foxglove (Agalinus spp.), Turkey Tangle Fogfruit (Phyla nodifloa)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar, rotting fruit
Mangrove Buckeye (Junonia evarete)	5-7	mangrove swamps, salt marshes, adjacent coastal areas	All year
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Tropical Buckeye (Junonia genoveva)	6-7	coastal area, disturbed sites	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--Blue Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)	2-7	wetlands, roadsides, cannals, wet ditches, disturbed sites	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--Waterhyssop (Bacopa monieri) and Turkey Tangle Fogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Malachite (Siproeta stelenes)	5-7	tropical hardwood hammock, shrubby sites, disturbed sites	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--Green Shrimp Plant (Blechum pyramidatum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar, rotting fruit
Red-spotted Purple (Basilarchia [Limenitis] arthemis astyanax)	1-3	secondary-growth woodlands, forest margins, swamps, wetlands	Mar-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Carolina Willow (Salix caroliniana); Shrubs--Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar, rotting fruit
Viceroy (Basilarchia [Limenitis] archippus)	1-6	wetlands, marshes	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Willows (Salix spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar, rotting fruit
Florida Purplewing (Eunica tatila)	7	tropical hardwood hammocks	All year
Larval Host Pants: Trees--Crabwood (Gymnanthes lucida)
Adult Food Resources: Tree sap, rotting fruit
Dingy purplewing	6-7	tropical hardwood hammocks and margins	All year
Larval Foods: Trees--Gumbo Limbo (Bursera simaruba)
Adult Food Resources: Tree sap, rotting fruit
Ruddy Daggerwing (Marpesia petreus)	4-7	tropical hardwood hammocks, wetlands	All year
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Strangler Fig (Ficus aurea)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar, tree sap, rotting fruit
Goatweed Leafwing (Anaea andrea)	1-3	woodlands, pinelands	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--Silver Croton (Croton argyranthmus) and Woolly Croton (Croton capitatus)
Adult Food Resources: Tree sap, rotting fruit
Florida Leafwing (Anaea troglodyte floridalis)	6-7	tropical pine rocklands	All year
Larval Host Plants: Pineland Croton (Croton linearis)
Adult Food Resources: Tree sap, rotting fruit
Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis)	1-5	woodlands, stream corridors, parks, forest margins	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata)
Adult Food Resources: Tree sap, rotting fruit
Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton)	1-6	woodlands, stream corridors forest margins, parks	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata)
Adult Food Resources: Tree sap, rotting fruit
Southern Pearly-Eye (Enodia portlandia)	1-3	wetlands, moist woodlands, stream corridors, canebrakes	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae) --Switchcane (Arundinaria gigantea)
Adult Food Resources: Sap, rotting fruit, and vegetation
Appalachian Brown (Satyrodes appalachia)	1-4	moist woodlands, swamps, stream corridors	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Pants: Sedges (Cyperaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Sap, rotting fruit, and vegetation
Gemmed Satyr (Cyllopsis gemma)	1-4	moist woodlands, stream corridors, swamps	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae--including Slender Woodoats Chasmanthium laxum)
Adult Food Resources: Tree sap
Georgia Satyr (Neonympha areolata)	1-6	marginal wetlands, moist woodlands, pine savannas, wet ditches	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae) and Sedges (Cyperaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Unknown
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)	1-7	woodlands, forest margins, wetlands, adjacent open areas	All year
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)--including St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar, sap
Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela)	1-4	woodlands, forest margins, swamps	Mar-May
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Sap, rotting fruit and vegetation
Common Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala)	1-4	woodlands, forest margin, swamps	Jul-Sep
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar, sap, rotting fruit and vegetation
Monarch (Danaus plexippus)	1-7	open areas, fields, gardens, disturbed sites, parks, scrubs, pastures, marshes	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous plants (Apocynaeae)--Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) including Pineland Milkweed (Asclepias humistrata), White Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias perennis), Pink Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Queen (Danaus gilippus)	1-7	open pinelands, forest margins, fields, marshes, pastures, gardens, parks	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous plants (Apocynaeae)--Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) including Pineland Milkweed (Asclepias humistrata), White Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias perennis), Pink Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata); Vines--White Twinvine (Sarcostemma clausum) and Florida Milkvine (Matelea floridana)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Soldier (Danaus eresimus)	4-7	marshes, gardens, open areas, disturbed sites, pastures, parks	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous plants (Apocynaeae)--Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.).; Vines--White Twinvine (Sarcostemma clausum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar

Table 6.

Tabe 6. Skippers (Family Hesperiidae)
SPECIES	REGIONS	HABITATS	FLIGHT SEASON
Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)	1-7	woodlands, forest margin, swamps, gardens	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Vines--including American Hogpeanut (Amphicarpeae bracteata), American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens), and Groundnut (Apios americana); Shrubs--Bastard Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Mangrove Skipper (Phocides pigmalion)	4-7	mangroves, coastal areas	All year
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Hammock Skipper (Polygonus leo)	6-7	tropical hardwood hammocks and margins, parks, gardens	All year
Larval Host Plants: Jamaican Dogwood (Piscidia piscipula)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)	1-7	open areas, disturbed sites, forest margins, parks, gardens	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous plants (Fabaceae)--including Ticktrefoil (Desmodium spp.); Vines--American Wisteria (Wisteria americana), Butterfly Pea (Centrosema spp.), and Milkpea (Galactia spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Dorantes Longtail (Urbanus dorantes)	1-7	woodland margins, disturbed sites, roadsides, gardens	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants (Fabaceae) including Ticktrefoil (Desmodium spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Golden Banded-Skipper (Autochton cellus)	1-2	moist woodlands, forest margins, wetlands	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Vines--including American Hogpeanut (Amphicarpeae bracteata)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades)	1-2	woodlands, forest margins	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--Ticktrefoil (Desmodium spp.); Vines--Atlantic Pigeonwings (Clitoria mariana)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Southern Cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus)	1-4	dry woodlands, forest margins, gardens	Mar-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--Ticktrefoil (Desmodium spp.); Vines--Atlantic Pigeonwings (Clitoria mariana)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)	1-5	dry woodlands, forest margins, gardens	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--Ticktrefoil (Desmodium spp.); Vines--Groundnut (Apios americana), Butterfly Pea (Centrosema spp.), and Milkpea (Galactia spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Confused Cloudywng (Thorybes confusis)	1-4	dry woodlands, forest margins	Mar-Oct
Larva Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants (Fabaceae) including Bush Clover (Lespedeza spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Hayhursts Scallopwing (Staphylus hayhurstii)	1-6	woodlands, forest margins	Feb- Nov
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plant: Jubas Bush (Iresine diffusa)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Florida Duskywing (Ephyriades brunneus)	6-7	tropical pine rocklands, hardwood hammock margins	All year
Larval Host Plants: Shrub--Long Key Locustberry (Byrsonima lucida)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Junevals Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)	1-5	dry woodlands, forest margins, adjacent open areas	Jan-Mar
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Oaks (Quercus spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo)	1-5	dry woodlands, forest margins, adjacent open areas	Jan-Mar
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Oaks (Quercus spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Horaces Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)	1-7	woodlands, forest margins, swamps, adjacent open areas	Feb-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Trees--Oaks (Quercus spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Mottled Duskywing (Erynnis martialis)	1	dry woodlands, forest margins, adjacent open areas	Mar-Sep
Larval Host Plants: Shrub--New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco)	1-7	woodlands, forest margins, wetland edges, adjacent open areas	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants--Wild White Indigo (Baptisia alba) and Blatterpod (Sesbania vesicaria); Vines - Milkpea (Galactia spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae)	1-2	dry woodlands, forest margins	Mar-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants (Fabaceae)--Wild White Indigo (Bapisia alba) and Carolina Indigo (Indigofera caroliniana)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus)	1-3	disturbed sites, pastures, fallow agricultural land, gardens	Mar-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants (Amaranthaceae)--Lambs Quarters (Chenopodium album)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis)	1-4	disturbed sites, roadsides, fields, pastures	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Pants (Malvaceae)--Cuban Jute (Sida rhombifolia) and Common Fanpetals (Sida acuta)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus albescens)	1-6	disturbed sites, roadsides, fields, pastures	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Pants (Malvaceae)--Cuban Jute (Sida rhombifolia) and Common Fanpetals (Sida acuta)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Tropical Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus oileus)	1-7	disturbed sites, roadsides, fields, pastures	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Pants (Malvaceae)--Cuban Jute (Sida rhombifolia) and Common Fanpetals (Sida acuta)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Swarthy Skipper (Nastra lherminier)	1-7	open woodlands, forest margins, fields, pine savannas, disturbed sites	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)--Bluestem (Andropogon spp.) and Indiangrass (Sorghastrum spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Neamathla Skipper (Nastra neamathla)	2-6	open woodlands, forest margins, fields, pine savannas, disturbed sites	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)--Bluestem (Andropogon spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Three-spotted Skipper (Cymaenes tripunctus)	5-7	woodlands, forest margins, disturbed sites	All year
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae) - Eastern Gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) and Thin Paspalum (Paspalum setaceum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala)	1-7	forest margins, pastures, disturbed sites	Mar-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius)	1-7	moist woodlands, wetlands, forest margins, disturbed sites	Mar- Nov
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Southern Skipperling (Copaeodes minimus)	1-6	wet meadows, roadsides, forest margins, moist ditches, roadsides, disturbed sites	Feb -Dec
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor)	1-6	wetlands, stream margins, swaps, wet meadows, ditches, disturbed sites	Mar-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Dotted Skipper (Hesperia attalus)	1-4	dry pine woodlands	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Meskes Skipper (Hesperia meskei)	1-7	dry pine woodlands, tropical pine rocklands	May-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Baracoa Skipper (Polites baracoa)	1-7	dry pine woodlands, forest margins, disturbed sites	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites thermistocles)	1-5	open woodlands, pine savannas, forest margins, fields	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Crossline Skipper (Polites origenes)	1-4	wetlands, pine savannas, seeps, moist meadows	Apr-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Whirlabout (Polites vibex)	1-7	open woodlands, forest margins, disturbed sites, gardens, yards	All year
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)--St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Southern Broken-Dash (Wallengrenia otho)	1-7	woodlands, forest margins, gardens	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Northern Broken-Dash (Wallengrenia egeremet)	1-4	woodlands, forest margins, swamps	Apr-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Little Glassywing (Pompeius verna)	1-3	woodlands, forest margins, swamps	Apr-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris)	1-7	woodlands, forest margins, wetlands, disturbed sites	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Arogos Skipper (Atrytone arogos)	2-5	prairies, wetlands, pine savannas	Apr-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)--Lopsided Indiangrass (Sorghastrum secundum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Delaware Skipper (Anatrytone logan)	1-6	forest margins, wetlands, moist meadows, pine savannas, marsh edges, old fields	Apr-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)--including Bluestem (Andropogon spp.), Indiangrass (Sorghastrum spp.), and Switchcane (Arundinaria gigantea)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Byssus Skipper (Problema byssus)	1-6	forest margins, stream corridors, wetlands	Apr-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)--Slender Woodoats (Chamanthium laxum) and Plumegrass (Saccharum spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon)	1-3	forest margins, wet woods, stream corridors, wetland margins	Mar-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Aarons Skipper (Poanes aaroni)	1-6	wetlands, stream corridors, freshwater and salt marsh margins	Mar-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Yehl Skipper (Poanes yehl)	1-2	forest margins, moist woodlands, swamp margins, canebrakes	Apr-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)	1-2	wetlands, marsh edges, stream corridors	Apr-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Palmetto Skipper (Euphyes arpa)	1-7	pine woodlands, pine savannas, scrubs	Mar-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Palms (Arecaceae)--Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Palatka Skipper (Euphyes pilatka)	1-7	wetlands, freshwater and brackish marshes, wet prairies	Mar-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Sedges (Cyperaceae)--Sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Dion Skipper (Euphyes dion)	1-3	wet meadows, pine savannas, moist roadsides, swamp margins	Apr-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Sedges (Cyperaceae)--Sedges (Carex spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Dukes' Skipper (Euphyes dukesi)	2-3	wetlands, wooded swamps	May-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Sedges (Cyperaceae)--Sedges (Carex spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Berry's Skipper (Euphyes berryi)	1-7	wetlands, moist meadows, pine savannas, swamp margins	Mar-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Sedges (Cyperaceae)--Sedges (Carex spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris)	1-3	moist woodland margins, wetlands, swamp edges	Apr-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Sedges (Cyperaceae)--Sedges (Carex spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Monk (Asbolis capucinus)	3-7	woodlands, forest margins, parks	Mar-Dec
Larval Host Plants: Palms (Arecaceae)--including Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens), Cabbage Palm (Sabal palmetto), Florida Thatch Palm (Thrinax morrisii), and Florida Silver Palm (Coccothrinax argentata)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Dusted Skipper (Atrytonopsis hianna)	1-5	pine savannas, pine woodlands, prairies	Mar-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)--Lopsided Indiangrass (Sorghastrum secundum)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Pepper and Salt Skipper (Amblyscirtes hegon)	1-2	moist woodland margins and clearings, swamp edges	Apr-Aug
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aesculapius)	1-3	moist woodland margins and clearings, swamp edges	Mar-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)--Switchcane (Arudinaria gigantea)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Common Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscrtes vialis)	1	woodland margins and clearings	Apr-Sep
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Reversed Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes reversa)	1	wetlands, canebrakes, seeps	Apr-Sep
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)--Switchcane (Arudinaria gigantea)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Dusky Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes alternata)	1-3	dry pine woodlands, pine savannas	Mar-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Twin-spot Skipper (Oligoria maculata)	1-7	moist woodland margins, pine savannas, marsh edges, fields	Mar-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)--Bluestem (Andropogon spp.)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Brazilian Skipper (Calpodes ethlius)	1-7	wetlands, swamps, marshes, gardens, parks	All year
Larval Host Plants: Herbaceous Plants (Cannaceae)--Bandana-of-the-Everglades (Canna florida) and ornamental Canna spp.
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Salt Marsh Skipper (Panoquina panoquin)	1-7	salt marshes and adjacent open areas	Feb-Dec
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)--Saltmarsh Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) and Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Obscure Skipper (Panoquina panoquinoides)	3-7	salt marshes and adjacent open areas	Apr-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola)	1-7	wetlands, marshes, wet meadows, roadsides, disturbed sites, gardens	Feb-Nov
Larval Host Plants: Grasses (Poaceae)
Adult Food Resources: Flower nectar
Yucca Giant-Skipper (Megathymus yuccae)	1-5	dry pine woodlands, scrubs, old fields, coastal dunes	Feb-May
Larval Host Plants: Shrubs (Agavaceae)--Adams Needle (Yucca filamentosa) and Spanish Bayonet (Yucca aloifolia)
Adult Food Resources: Unknown
Cofaqui Giant-Skipper (Megathymus cofaqui)	1-5	dry pine woodlands, scrubs, old fields, coastal dunes	Apr-Oct
Larval Host Plants: Shrubs (Agavaceae)--Adams Needle (Yucca filamentosa) and Spanish Bayonet (Yucca aloifolia)
Adult Food Resources: Unknown

Table 7.

Table 7. Native Butterfly Nectar Plants. North and Central Florida: Regions 1-4.
Common Name	Scientific Name	Flowering Season
TREES
Eastern Redbud	Cercis canadensis	Spring
Dahoon Holly	Ilex cassine	Spring
Chickasaw Plum	Prunus angustifolia	Spring
Hog Plum	Prunus umbellata	Spring
Sparkleberry	Vaccinium arboreum	Spring
Walters Viburnum	Viburnum abovatum	Spring
SHRUBS
Bastard Indigo	Amorpha fruticosa	Summer-Fall
Buttonbush	Cephalanthus occidentalis	Spring-Summer
New Jersey Tea	Ceanothus americanus	Spring
Summersweet	Clethra alnifolia	Summer
Garberia	Garberia heterophylla	Summer-Fall
Firebush	Hamelia patens	Summer-Fall
Inkberry	Ilex glabra	Spring-Summer
Wild Azalea	Rhododendron canescens	Spring
Florida Flame Azalea	Rhododendron austrinum	Spring
WILDFLOWERS
False Foxglove	Agalinus spp.	Fall
Pink Swamp Milkweed	Asclepias incarnata	Summer-Fall
White Swamp Milkweed	Asclepias perennis	Summer-Fall
Butterfly Milkweed	Asclepias tuberosa	Spring-Summer
Aster	Aster spp.	Summer-Fall
Florida Paint Brush	Carphephorus corymbosus	Fall
Vanilla Plant	Carphephorus odoratissimus	Fall
Golden Aster	Chrysopsis spp.	Fall
Mistflower	Conoclinium coelestinum	Summer-Fall
Dalea	Dalea spp.	Fall
Purple Coneflower	Echinacea purpurea	Summer
Elephants-foot	Elepjantopus elatus	Summer-Fall
Snakeroot	Eryngium aquaticum	Summer
Mistflower	Eupatorium coelestinum	Summer-Fall
Joe-pye Weed	Eupatorium fistulosum	Summer-Fall
Blanket Flower	Gaillardia pulchella	Summer-Fall
Coastal Vervain	Glandularia maritima	Summer
Narrow-leaf Sunflower	Helianthus angustifolius	Summer-Fall
Beach Sunflower	Helianthus debilis	Summer-Fall
Scarlet Hibiscus	Hibiscus coccineus	Summer-Fall
Redroot	Lachnanthes caroliana	Summer-Fall
Blazing Star	Liatris spp.	Summer-Fall
Cardinal Flower	Lobelia cardinalis	Summer-Fall
Snow Squarestem	Melanhera nivea	Summer-Fall
Hempweed	Mikania scandens	Fall
Horsemint	Monarda punctata	Fall
Turkey Tangle Fogfruit	Phyla nodiflora	Spring-Fall
Black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia hirta	Summer-Fall
Yellow Coneflower	Ratibida pinnata	Summer-Fall
Cut-leaved Coneflower	Rudbeckia lanciniata	Summer-Fall
Wild Petunia	Ruellia caroliniensis	Spring-Fall
Salvia (Sage)	Salvia spp.	Summer-Fall
Rosinweed	Silphium asteriscus	Summer-Fall
Goldenrod	Solidago spp.	Summer-Fall
Stokes' Aster	Stokesia laevis	Summer-Fall
Ironweed	Vernonia spp.	Summer

Table 8.

Table 8. Native Butterfly Nectar Plants. South Florida: Regions 5-7.
Common Name	Scientific Name	Flowering Season
TREES
Geiger Tree	Cordia sebestena	Summer-Winter
SHRUBS
Buttonbush	Cephalanthus occidentalis	Summer
Buttonwood	Conocarpus erectus	Spring-Summer
Firebush	Hamelia patens	All year
Buttonsage	Lantana involucrata	Summer-Winter
Wild Coffee	Psychotria nervosa	Spring
Necklace Pod	Sophora tomentosa	Summer-Winter
PERENNIALS
Mistflower	Conoclinium coelestinum	Summer-Fall
Beach Sunflower	Helianthus debilis	All Year
Scorpion-tail	Heliotropium angiospermum	All Year
Snow Squarestem	Melanhera nivea	All Year
Turkey Tangle Fogfruit	Phyla nodiflora	All Year
Blue Porterweed	Stachytarpheta jamaicensis	Spring

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Footnotes

1. This document is WEC 22, one of a series of the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First published December, 1990. Revised September, 2002. Major revision February, 2008. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. Jaret C. Daniels, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology and Nematology; Joe Schaefer, Ph.D., South District Extension Director; Craig N. Huegel, Former Assistant Extension Scientist, Pinellas Country; and Frank J. Mazzotti, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Everglades REC, Belle Glade, FL 33430; University of Florida, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

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U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.

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Copyright Information

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