Types of Butterflies in North Dakota
North Dakota is home to about 150 species of butterflies. Some species, such as the cabbage butterfly may reproduce several times each year while others, like the Canadian tiger swallowtail, have one brood per year. Some migratory species like the variegated fritillary come here on an annual basis and live until the first frost of autumn, whereas the Monarch butterfly travels through North Dakota each year to reach warmer breeding grounds. The butterfly hotspots in the state are the Fort Berthold Reservation, Devils lake basin, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and the various national wildlife refuges.
This midwestern U.S. state has not designated any species as its state butterfly.
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)
- Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis)
- Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)
- Weidemeyer’s Admiral (Limenitis weidemeyerii)
- White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis)
- Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis)
- Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton)
- Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite)
- Callippe Fritillary (Speyeria callippe)
- Edwards’ Fritillary (Speyeria edwardsii)
- Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
- Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
- Meadow Fritillary (Boloria bellona)
- Mormon Fritillary (Speyeria mormonia)
- Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia)
- Silver-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)
- Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
- Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
- Queen (Danaus gilippus)
- American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
- American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
- California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica)
- Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
- Compton Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vaualbum)
- Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)
- Gorgone Checkerspot (Chlosyne gorgone)
- Gray Comma (Polygonia progne)
- Green Comma (Polygonia faunus)
- Harris’ Checkerspot (Chlosyne harrisii)
- Hoary Comma (Polygonia gracilis)
- Milbert’s Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti)
- Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
- Northern Crescent (Phyciodes cocyta)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
- Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Sagebrush Checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus)
- Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus)
- Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis)
- Tawny Crescent (Phyciodes batesii)
- Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana)
- Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona)
- West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella)
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius)
- American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus)
- Gray Copper (Lycaena dione)
- Ruddy Copper (Lycaena rubidus)
- Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides)
- Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii)
- Olive (Juniper) Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)
- Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus)
- Acadian Hairstreak (Satyrium acadica)
- Edwards’ Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii)
- Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)
- Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops)
- Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
- Hoary Elfin (Callophrys polios)
- Western Pine Elfin (Callophrys eryphon)
- Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas)
- Western Tailed-Blue (Cupido amyntula)
- Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)
- Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta)
- Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
- Melissa Blue (Plebejus melissa)
- Reakirt’s Blue (Echinargus isola)
- Greenish Blue (Icaricia saepiolus)
- Boisduval’s Blue (Aricia icarioides)
- Lupine Blue (Plebejus lupini)
- Arctic Blue (Agriades glandon)
- Shasta Blue (Icaricia shasta)
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Olympia Marble (Euchloe olympia)
- Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides)
- Mustard White (Pieris oleracea)
- Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
- Checkered White (Pontia protodice)
- Western White (Pontia occidentalis)
- Spring White (Pontia sisymbrii)
- Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
- Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
- Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur (Colias alexandra)
- Southern Dogface (Colias cesonia)
- Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
- Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana)
- Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa)
- Mimosa Yellow (Pyrisitia nise)
- Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
Metalmark (Riodinidae)
- Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo)
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Rocky Mountain Parnassian (Parnassius smintheus)
- Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon)
- Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
- Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis)
- Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
- Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
- Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
- Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon)
- Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)
- Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Strecker’s Giant-Skipper (Megathymus streckeri)
- Afranius Duskywing (Erynnis afranius)
- Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis)
- Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus)
- Dreamy Duskywing (Erynnis icelus)
- Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)
- Mohave Sootywing (Hesperopsis libya)
- Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
- Persius Duskywing (Erynnis persius)
- Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
- Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo)
- Small Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus scriptura)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many butterfly species are in North Dakota?
North Dakota is home to approximately 150 species of butterflies. This number includes resident species that complete their full life cycle within the state and migratory species that pass through annually. The state’s diverse habitats, from prairies to woodlands, support this wide variety of lepidopteran life.
What is the official state butterfly of North Dakota?
North Dakota does not have an officially designated state butterfly. While many other states have selected a specific species to represent them, North Dakota has not yet made such a designation. Therefore, notable local species like the Monarch or Regal Fritillary do not hold an official state title.
Where are the best places to see butterflies in North Dakota?
The best places to see butterflies in North Dakota are its designated biodiversity hotspots. These key locations include Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Devils Lake basin, and the Fort Berthold Reservation. The state’s various national wildlife refuges also provide excellent habitats and nectar sources for numerous butterfly species.
Are Monarch butterflies found in North Dakota?
Yes, Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are found in North Dakota as a migratory species. They travel through the state each year on their long journey to and from warmer breeding grounds in Mexico. North Dakota’s native milkweed plants are a vital food source for their caterpillars during migration.
What types of Fritillary butterflies live in North Dakota?
North Dakota is home to several types of Fritillary butterflies. Common species observed in the state include the Great Spangled Fritillary, Regal Fritillary, Variegated Fritillary, and Aphrodite Fritillary. These members of the Brush-Footed family are typically identified by their orange and black markings with silvery underwing spots.
How do different butterfly species handle North Dakota’s seasons?
Butterfly species in North Dakota handle seasons differently based on their life cycles. Some migratory species, like the Variegated Fritillary, arrive annually and live until the first frost. Others, such as the Monarch, travel through the state to reach warmer climates before winter arrives for breeding.
Do all butterflies in North Dakota have multiple broods per year?
No, not all butterflies in North Dakota have multiple broods each year. Reproductive cycles vary significantly by species; for instance, the Cabbage Butterfly may reproduce several times annually. In contrast, other species like the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail are known to have only a single brood per year.
