Annual Butterfly Count
for the North American Butterfly Association (NABA)
The North American Butterfly Association has sponsored butterfly counts in the US, Canada, and Mexico for 30 years. The data collected helps monitor the geographic distribution of butterflies and fluctuations in butterfly populations. Pre-registered groups (minimum 4/group) count the butterflies they see in one day (minimum of 6 party-hours) in a 15-mile diameter circle. Following NABA protocols, JRMN volunteers count in June or July in Powhatan State Park and the Powhatan Wildlife Management Area. NABA citizen scientists may use binoculars or cameras to assist in identification, but are strongly discouraged from using nets.
Photo: R. Reilly
Photos: R. Reilly
A very hot day in July does not deter volunteers from doing a NABA count at Powhatan State Park, nor does it deter a friendly American snout (note the super long proboscis!) from stopping by to say hello!
Below are just a few of the butterflies that visit the meadows, gardens, and forests of our area. When providing plants to attract butterflies, remember to provide host plants to nourish the caterpillars. Butterflies and Moths of North America is a good resource for learning the nutritional needs, habitat, life history and more for specific species of lepidopterans.
Photo: Sam Reilly
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papillo glaucus) is the state butterfly of Virginia with good reason. This large, showy insect is the most recognizable swallowtail we see. The female may exhibit dark coloration, as in photo below. In good light the tiger stripes are still visible.
Photo: S. Leslie
Pipevine Swallowtails (Battus philenor) derive aristolochic acids from their host plants, pipevine and Virginia snakeroot, which make them toxic to predators. Several other dark swallowtails that are not toxic themselves mimic the coloration of the Pipevine Swallowtail to discourage predators.
Photo: S. Reilly
The striking Zebra Swallowtail (Neographium marcellus) may be found nectaring on various flowers, like the common milkweed above, but its caterpillars feed only on the paw paw.
Photo: S. Oglesby
Photo: R. Reilly
The Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) is another spectacular mimic of the Pipevine Swallowtail.
The magnificent Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) mimics the coloration of the toxic Pipevine Swallowtail to discourage predators.
Photo: K. Cook
Photo: S. Shepherd
Photo: S. Reilly
Photo: S. Oglesby
Though it lacks tails, the Red-Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) mimics the Pipevine Swallowtail's dark coloration as a defense against predation.
The Fritilarries, Great-Spangled (Speyeria cybele), left, and Variegated (Euptoieta claudia), above, feed on the Common Blue Violet as caterpillars, a good reason to regard these common lawn "weeds" as desirable native plants!
Photo: S. Shepherd
The understated coloration of the Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela) allows it to blend in at the edges of the open woods it likes to frequent.
Photo: K. Cook
The Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis) is one of two butterflies ready to help us with our punctuation (the other being the Eastern Comma, Polygonia comma).
Photo: K. Cook
With its large eyespots and bold coloration, the Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) is hard to confuse with anything else.
Photo: S. Leslie
The Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) often allows observers to see top and under views of its wings as it opens and closes them while nectaring. Females lay clusters of up to 200 eggs on a single leaf .
Photo: S. Oglesby
The Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton), like the Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis), depends on the Hackberry tree as a host for its young.
Photo: S. Leslie
The Orange Sulfur (Colias eurytheme) is one of a number of iconic yellow butterflies common in sunny fields.
Photo: K. Cook
Gray Hairstreaks (Strymon melinus), like the Eastern Tailed Blues (Cupido comyntas) at the top of the page, have tiny tails which may mimic antennae and trick predators into taking a bite out of the hindwing instead of the butterfly's body.
Photo: E. Wallace
Photo: D. Girgente
Painted Ladies (Vanessa cardui) and Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta), above, are not freeze tolerant and migrate from Virginia to overwinter as adults further south.
Photo: S. Reilly
Photo: S. Leslie
Photo: S. Reilly
Skippers can be difficult to identify but are always irresistably cute! These three are, in order, the Sachem (Atalopedes campestris), Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), and the Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus).