Types of Butterflies in Wyoming
This western U.S. state has about 200 species of butterflies, which is more than some of the other states. The Great Plains, rocky mountains, valleys, national parks, lowlands along lakes and rivers, and basins are the ideal habitats for these species.
Wyoming has a designated state butterfly, i.e., Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii) since 2009.
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- Lorquin’s Admiral (Limenitis lorquini)
- Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)
- Weidemeyer’s Admiral (Limenitis weidemeyerii)
- White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis)
- Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis)
- Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite)
- Callippe Fritillary (Speyeria callippe)
- Coronis Fritillary (Speyeria coronis)
- Edwards’ Fritillary (Speyeria edwardsii)
- Great Basin Fritillary (Speyeria egleis)
- Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
- Mormon Fritillary (Speyeria mormonia)
- Northwestern Fritillary (Speyeria hesperis)
- Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia)
- Zerene Fritillary (Speyeria zerene)
- Hydaspe Fritillary (Speyeria hydaspe)
- Dingy Fritillary (Boloria improba)
- Arctic Fritillary (Boloria chariclea)
- Bog Fritillary (Boloria eunomia)
- Freija Fritillary (Boloria freija)
- Frigga Fritillary (Boloria frigga)
- Meadow Fritillary (Boloria bellona)
- Mountain Fritillary (Boloria alaskensis)
- Pacific Fritillary (Boloria epithore)
- Relict Fritillary (Boloria kriemhild)
- Silver-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)
- Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
- Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
- Queen (Danaus gilippus)
- American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
- American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
- West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica)
- Compton Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vaualbum)
- Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
- Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)
- Gray Comma (Polygonia progne)
- Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
- Green Comma (Polygonia faunus)
- Hoary Comma (Polygonia gracilis)
- Field Crescent (Phyciodes pulchellus)
- Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus)
- Gillette’s Checkerspot (Euphydryas gillettii)
- Edith’s Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha)
- Gorgone Checkerspot (Chlosyne gorgone)
- Northern Checkerspot (Chlosyne palla)
- Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis)
- Rockslide Checkerspot (Chlosyne whitneyi)
- Sagebrush Checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus)
- Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta)
- Northern Crescent (Phyciodes cocyta)
- Pale Crescent (Phyciodes pallida)
- Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
- Tawny Crescent (Phyciodes batesii)
- Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona)
- Dotted Checkerspot (Poladryas minuta)
- Milbert’s Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti)
- Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Acadian Hairstreak(Satyrium acadica)
- American Copper(Lycaena phlaeas)
- Arctic Blue(Agriades glandon)
- Arrowhead Blue(Glaucopsyche piasus)
- Banded Hairstreak(Satyrium calanus)
- Behr’s Hairstreak(Satyrium behrii)
- Blue Copper(Lycaena heteronea)
- Boisduval’s Blue(Plebeius icarioides)
- Bronze Copper(Lycaena hyllus)
- Brown Elfin(Callophrys augustinus)
- California Hairstreak(Satyrium californica)
- Colorado Hairstreak(Hypaurotis crysalus)
- Coral Hairstreak(Satyrium titus)
- Eastern Tailed-Blue(Everes comyntas)
- Edith’s Copper(Lycaena editha)
- Gray Copper(Lycaena dione)
- Gray Hairstreak(Strymon melinus)
- Greenish Blue(Plebeius saepiolus)
- Hedgerow Hairstreak(Satyrium saepium)
- Hoary Elfin(Callophrys polios)
- Juniper Hairstreak(Callophrys gryneus)
- Lilac-bordered Copper(Lycaena nivalis)
- Lupine Blue(Plebeius lupini)
- Lustrous Copper(Lycaena cupreus)
- Marine Blue(Leptotes marina)
- Mariposa Copper(Lycaena mariposa)
- Melissa Blue(Lycaeides melissa)
- Moss’ Elfin(Callophrys mossii)
- Northern Blue(Lycaeides idas)
- Purplish Copper(Lycaena helloides)
- Reakirt’s Blue(Hemiargus isola)
- Rita Dotted-Blue(Euphilotes rita)
- Rocky Mountain Dotted-Blue(Euphilotes ancilla)
- Ruddy Copper(Lycaena rubidus)
- Shasta Blue(Plebeius shasta)
- Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak(Callophrys sheridani)
- Silvery Blue(Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
- Sooty Hairstreak(Satyrium fuliginosum)
- Spring Azure(Celastrina “ladon”)
- Striped Hairstreak(Satyrium liparops)
- Summer Azure(Celastrina neglecta)
- Sylvan Hairstreak(Satyrium sylvinus)
- Tailed Copper(Lycaena arota)
- Thicket Hairstreak(Callophrys spinetorum)
- Western Green Hairstreak(Callophrys affinis)
- Western Pine Elfin(Callophrys eryphon)
- Western Pygmy-Blue(Brephidium exile)
- Western Tailed-Blue(Everes amyntula)
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Pine White (Neophasia menapia)
- Becker’s White (Pontia beckerii)
- Spring White (Pontia sisymbrii)
- Checkered White (Pontia protodice)
- Western White (Pontia occidentalis)
- Margined White (Pieris marginalis)
- Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
- Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides)
- Northern Marble (Euchloe creusa)
- Desert Marble (Euchloe lotta)
- Olympia Marble (Euchloe olympia)
- Stella Orangetip (Anthocharis stella)
- Southern Rocky Mountain Orangetip (Anthocharis julia)
- Southwestern Orangetip (Anthocharis thoosa)
- Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
- Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
- Christina Sulphur (Colias christina)
- Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur (Colias alexandra)
- Mead’s Sulphur (Colias meadii)
- Scudder’s Sulphur (Colias scudderi)
- Giant Sulphur (Colias gigantea)
- Pelidne Sulphur (Colias pelidne)
- Pink-edged Sulphur (Colias interior)
- Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia)
- Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
- Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana)
- Little Yellow (Eurema lisa)
- Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)
- Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
Metalmark (Riodinidae)
- Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo)
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Clodius Parnassian (Parnassius clodius)
- Rocky Mountain Parnassian (Parnassius smintheus)
- Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon)
- Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
- Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis)
- Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
- Indra Swallowtail (Papilio indra)
- Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
- Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon)
- Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata)
- Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Silver-spotted Skipper(Epargyreus clarus)
- Northern Cloudywing(Thorybes pylades)
- Western Cloudywing(Thorybes diversus)
- Mexican Cloudywing(Thorybes mexicana)
- Dreamy Duskywing(Erynnis icelus)
- Sleepy Duskywing(Erynnis brizo)
- Juvenal’s Duskywing(Erynnis juvenalis)
- Rocky Mountain Duskywing(Erynnis telemachus)
- Mottled Duskywing(Erynnis martialis)
- Pacuvius Duskywing(Erynnis pacuvius)
- Afranius Duskywing(Erynnis afranius)
- Persius Duskywing(Erynnis persius)
- Grizzled Skipper(Pyrgus centaureae)
- Two-banded Checkered-Skipper(Pyrgus ruralis)
- Small Checkered-Skipper(Pyrgus scriptura)
- Common Checkered-Skipper(Pyrgus communis)
- Northern White-Skipper(Heliopetes ericetorum)
- Common Sootywing(Pholisora catullus)
- Mohave Sootywing(Hesperopsis libya)
- Arctic Skipper(Carterocephalus palaemon)
- Russet Skipperling(Piruna pirus)
- Garita Skipperling(Oarisma garita)
- European Skipper(Thymelicus lineola)
- Uncas Skipper(Hesperia uncas)
- Juba Skipper(Hesperia juba)
- Western Branded Skipper(Hesperia colorado)
- Ottoe Skipper(Hesperia ottoe)
- Leonard’s Skipper(Hesperia leonardus)
- Pahaska Skipper(Hesperia pahaska)
- Green Skipper(Hesperia viridis)
- Nevada Skipper(Hesperia nevada)
- Peck’s Skipper(Polites peckius)
- Rhesus Skipper(Polites rhesus)
- Sandhill Skipper(Polites sabuleti)
- Draco Skipper(Polites draco)
- Tawny-edged Skipper(Polites themistocles)
- Crossline Skipper(Polites origenes)
- Long Dash(Polites mystic)
- Sonora Skipper(Polites sonora)
- Sachem(Atalopedes campestris)
- Arogos Skipper(Atrytone arogos)
- Delaware Skipper(Anatrytone logan)
- Woodland Skipper(Ochlodes sylvanoides)
- Yuma Skipper(Ochlodes yuma)
- Snow’s Skipper(Paratrytone snowi)
- Hobomok Skipper(Poanes hobomok)
- Taxiles Skipper(Poanes taxiles)
- Dun Skipper(Euphyes vestris)
- Dusted Skipper(Atrytonopsis hianna)
- Viereck’s Skipper(Atrytonopsis vierecki)
- Simius Roadside-Skipper(“Amblyscirtes” simius)
- Oslar’s Roadside-Skipper(Amblyscirtes oslari)
- Common Roadside-Skipper(Amblyscirtes vialis)
- Strecker’s Giant-Skipper(Megathymus streckeri)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many butterfly species are found in Wyoming?
Wyoming is home to approximately 200 species of butterflies, a number supported by its diverse geography. The state’s varied habitats, which include the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, and river valleys, provide the necessary conditions for this wide range of species to thrive throughout their life cycles.
What is the official state butterfly of Wyoming?
The official state butterfly of Wyoming is Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii). This small, brightly colored butterfly was designated in 2009. It belongs to the Lycaenidae family and is a distinctive species found within the state’s unique ecosystems, particularly in mountain and foothill environments.
Are Monarch butterflies found in Wyoming?
Yes, the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is found in Wyoming as part of the Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae) family. Their presence in the state is dependent on the availability of milkweed, which is the essential host plant for their caterpillars. They can be spotted in meadows and open areas.
Where are the best places to see butterflies in Wyoming?
The best places to see butterflies in Wyoming are within its varied natural habitats like national parks, mountain valleys, and lowlands along rivers. These areas offer a rich diversity of flowering plants for nectar and specific host plants for caterpillars, supporting a large portion of the state’s 200 species.
Why does Wyoming have so many different butterfly species?
Wyoming’s high diversity of butterfly species is due to its wide range of ecosystems. The state features the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, high-altitude basins, and river valleys. This ecological variety supports numerous different host plants and nectar sources, allowing about 200 distinct species to successfully live there.
How can you identify a Mourning Cloak butterfly in Wyoming?
A Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) is identified by its large, dark maroon or brownish-purple wings edged with a thick, pale yellow border. Just inside this border is a row of vibrant, iridescent blue spots. This distinct coloration makes it one of the more recognizable species in Wyoming.
What is the difference between a Viceroy and a Monarch in Wyoming?
The key difference is a distinct black line that crosses the hindwings of the Viceroy (Limenitis archippus), which is absent on the Monarch. While both orange and black butterflies are found in Wyoming, the Viceroy is a mimic and is typically slightly smaller than the Monarch butterfly.
