A
List
of
Butterflies
and
Moths
In
Alaska
with those seen during
Focus On Nature Tours
in Alaska
noted with an (*)
A List of Alaska Butterflies and Moths
compiled by Armas Hill
Upper right photo: OLD WORLD SWALLOWTAILS
Among the Lepidoptera groupings
in this list, Links to:
Swallowtails, Parnassians Whites, Marbles, Sulphurs Coppers, Hairstreaks,
Blues
Brushfoots (including Fritillaries, Tortoiseshells) Satyrs (including Alpines, Arctics)
Skippers Moths
Codes:
Numbers in the list below noted as
(K:xx)
refer to pages in the
Kaufman Focus Guide to Butterflies of North America,
by Jim Brock & Kenn
Kaufman
Numbers in the list below noted as
(PW:xx)
refer to plates in the
Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies,
by Paul Opler
&
Amy Barttlett
Wright, 1999
(i/E): introduced from
Eurasia
(AKr): rare in Alaska
(ph): species with a photo in the FONT website
Additional Links:
Upcoming Alaska FONT Tour Itineraries
Birds in Alaska
Mammals in Alaska Wildflowers & Other Plants in Alaska
Other Lists and Photo Galleries of
Butterflies and Moths
Butterflies:
SWALLOWTAILS and PARNASSIANS
- Canadian Tiger Swallowtail ______
(PW:5) (K:21)
Papilio canadensis
(Range: Alaska east to northern New England)
- Old World Swallowtail (*) (ph) ______
(PW:3)
(K:33)
Papilio machaon
Papilio machaon aliaska ______ subspecies in
Alaska and northwest Canada
Papilio machaon
is known for its "hill-topping", a form of
lekking behavior.
In "hill-topping", males may be found flying up to and
staying on a hilltop, for days on end if necessary.
Females, desirous of mating, fly up the hill.
Males dash around the top, competing for the best part of the area - usually
the very top, as the male with the best territory at the top of the hill
would have the best chance of mating with the occasional female, who knows
that the "top male" must be strong and thus genetically fit.
Papilio machaon aliaska nectars
on Labrador Tea.
- Phoebus Parnassian ______ (PW:1)
(K:45)
Parnassius phoebus
Parnassius phoebus apricatus ______
subspecies from southern Alaska to northwestern British Columbia,
Canada
Parnassius phoebus golovinus ______ subspecies on
the Seward Peninsula in Alaska, described in 1930
- Eversmann's Parnassian ______ (PW:1)
(K:45)
Parnassius eversmanni
The Eversmann's Parnassian flies close to the ground over open
tundra. It occurs in Alaska, and in Canada in Yukon, the western Northwest
Territories, and northern British Columbia.
WHITES, MARBLES,
SULPHURS
- Arctic White (*) ______
(PW:8) (K:47)
Pieris angelika
The Parry's Wallflower is a good host plant for Pieris
angelika, a far-northern species of "mustard
white".
- Western White ______ (PW:8)
(K:49)
Pontia occidentalis
- Large Marble ______
(PW:8)
(K:55)
Euchloe ausonides
- Northern Marble (*) ______
(PW:9) (K:55)
Euchloe creusa
The Northern Marble flies in the late spring and early summer,
making it a notably early flier in northern areas.
- Green Marble ______ (PW:9)
Euchloe naina
- Clouded Sulphur ______ (PW:10)
(K:61)
Colias philodice
- Pelidne Sulphur ______ (PW:11)
(K:63)
Colias pelidne
- Christina's Sulphur ______
(PW:10)
(K:63)
Colias christina
- Giant Sulphur
______ (PW:11) (K:65)
Colias gigantea
- Palaeno Sulphur (ph)
______ (PW:11) (K:65)
Colias palaeno
Other names for Colias
palaeno are Arctic Sulphur and Moorland Clouded
Yellow.
A Palaeno, or Arctic Sulphur
- Labrador Sulphur
______ (PW:11) (K:65)
Colias nastes
- Canadian Sulphur
______ (PW:11) (K:67)
Colias canadensis
Colias canadensis is a recently
distinguished species. It was previously confused with the Hecla Sulphur
(below).
The female of Colias
canadensis shows dimorphism. It is usually white, but
sometimes orange or yellow with the normal black borders.
- Hecla Sulphur
______ (PW:11) (K:67)
Colias hecla
- Booth's Sulphur
______ (PW:11) (K:67)
Colias tyche thula
The Booth's Sulphur is
rarely seen south of the Brooks Range.
COPPERS, HAIRSTREAKS,
BLUES
- American Copper (ph)
______ (PW:14) (K:81)
Lycaena phlaeas
Lycaena
phlaeas is also called the Small Copper.
A Small (or American) Copper photographed during a
FONT tour
(photo by James Scheib)
- Dorcas Copper
______ (PW:15) (K:85)
Lycaena dorcas
- Mariposa Copper ______ (PW:15)
(K:89)
Lycaena mariposa
- Hoary Elfin
______ (PW:18) (K:105)
Caliophrys polios
- Western Pine Elfin ______ (PW:18)
(K:107)
Callophrys eryphon
- Western Tailed-Blue (*) ______ (PW:19) (K:125)
Everes amyntula
- Silvery Blue ______
(PW:20) (K:125)
Glaucopsyche lygdamus
- Spring Azure (*) ______ (PW:19)
(K:131)
Celastrina ladon
- Greenish Blue ______
(PW:20) (K:135)
Plebejus saepiolus
- Northern Blue ______ (PW:20)
(K:135)
Lycaeides idas
- Arctic Blue ______ (PW:21)
(K:137)
Agriades glandon
- Cranberry Blue
______ (PW:21) (K:137)
Vacciniina optilete
BRUSHFOOTS
- Mormon Fritillary ______
(PW:24) (K:161)
Speyeria mormonia
Northern bogs hold several species of
lesser fritillaries in the genus BOLORIA (below), many of
which were named for Norse goddesses.
- Frigga Fritillary ______
(PW:25)
(K:169)
Boloria frigga
- Silver-bordered Fritillary ______
(PW:25) (K:171)
Boloria selene
- Bog Fritillary (ph)
______ (PW:25) (K:171)
Boloria eunomia
Bog Fritillary
- Polaris Fritillary
______ (PW:25) (K:171)
Boloria polaris
The Polaris Fritillary occurs in
open tundra areas. It flies mid-summer, 1 brood.
- Astarte Fritillary
______ (PW:25) (K:171)
Boloria astarte
The Astarte Fritillary lives on
rocky tundra ridges.
- Mountain
Fritillary ______ (PW:25) (K:173)
Bolaria napaea
- Dingy Fritillary
______ (PW:25) (K:173)
Boloria improba
- Freija Fritillary
______ (PW:25) (K:175)
Boloria freija
Boloria freija
has a distinctive pearl spearpoint
underneath.
- Purplish
Fritillary ______ (K:175)
Boloria montinus
- Arctic Fritillary (*)
______ (PW:25) (K:175)
Boloria chariclea
- Cryptic Fritillary
______ (PW:25) (K:175)
Boloria natazhati
Boloria natazhati is also called
the Beringian Fritillary.
- Northern Crescent ______ (PW:28)
(K:177)
Phyciodes selenis
- Field Crescent ______
(PW:28)
(K:179)
Phyciodes campestris
- Variable Checkerspot ______ (PW:28)
(K:193)
Euphydryas chalcedona
- Green Comma ______ (PW:29)
(K:199)
Polygonia faunus
Polygonia faunus
is also known as the Faun Anglewing.
- Hoary Comma ______ (PW:29)
(K:199)
Polygonia gracilis
- Compton Tortoiseshell ______
(PW:29)
(K:201)
Nymphalis vaualbum
- Milbert's Tortoiseshell (ph) ______
(PW:29) (K:201)
Nymphalis milberti
Milbert's Tortoiseshell
(photo by Doris Potter)
- Mourning Cloak (*) (ph) ______ (PW:29)
(K:203)
Nymphalis antiopa
Mourning Cloak
- Painted Lady (ph) ______
(PW:29)
(K:205)
Vanessa cardui
Painted Lady
(photo by Doris Potter)
- White Admiral ______
(PW:30) (K:213)
Limenitis arthemis
Limenitis arthemis
is called known as the Red-spotted Purple.
SATYRS
- Common Ringlet ______ (PW:32)
(K:241)
Coenonympha tullia
All of the EREBIA butterflies (below)
show green and purple glints when they are really fresh.
- Common Alpine ______ (PW:33)
(K:243)
Erebia epipsodea
The Common Alpine is also known as the Butler's
Alpine. It is three square inches of rich, dark chocolate wings with
cinnamon bands and sugar-centered, licorice eyespots - the archetypal Erebia
pattern, with several variations.
- Taiga Alpine
______ (PW:32) (K:243)
Erebia mancinus
(Range: from Labrador to Alaska)
- Disa Alpine
______ (PW:32) (K:243)
Erebia disa
Erebia disa steckeri ______ subspecies from northern Alaska to
the western Yukon (Canada), in tundra and forest habitats
- Ross' Alpine
______ (PW:32) (K;245)
Erebia rossii
Erebia rossii rossii ______ subspecies in most of the species'
range
Erebia rossii gabrieli ______ subspecies in the vicinity of
Denali National Park, subspecies described in 1949
Erebia rossii kuskoquima ______ subspecies in southwest Alaska,
in the Yukon and Kuskoquim river drainages
The Ross' Alpine has smaller
ocelli than the Common, or Butler's Alpine, a double iris in a
yellow patch on otter pelt brown.
- Eskimo Alpine ______ (K:245)
Erebia occulta
Erebia occulta occulta ______ subspecies described in 1983
*****************************************************************************
The following 3 species, Erebia youngi, Erebia phellea, and
Erebia
lafontainei, have not, in North America, extended their ranges more than a
few hundred kilometers beyond the unglaciated areas of Alaska and Yukon.
This has been due to their weak flight capabilities, their very specific
habitat requirements, and their short lifespans.
In North America, all 3 of these species are often sympatric. All 3 fly
together in Alaska in the western Brooks Range (at the head of the Kivalina
River) and on the Seward Peninsula (at Harris Dome).
Erebia youngi and Erebia lafontainei fly together in the western Brooks
Range at the Utukok Rover.
- Young's Alpine ______ (PW:33) (K:245)
(has been called the Four-dotted Alpine)
Erebia youngi
Erebia youngi herscheli ______ subspecies in coastal northern
Alaska and the northern Yukon (Canada)
Erebia youngi rileyi ______ subspecies in the vicinity of Denali
National Park, subspecies described in 1947
Erebia youngi youngi ______
subspecies in central Alaska east to
western Yukon (Canada)
- Erebia phellea
______
- Lafontaine's Alpine ______
(species described in 1983)
Erebia lafontainei
The Lafontaine's Alpine occurs in Alaska on the Alaska Range, the Brooks
Range, and on the North Slope, west to the Seward Peninsula.
It is found in low shrub tundra, both arctic and alpine. The butterflies
usually rest in small patches of short sedge found between low willows and
birches, or in frost boils, where they are sheltered from the wind.
The flight period of the Lafontaine's Alpine is mid-June to late-July, with
the butterflies appearing on the wing one to two weeks ahead of the Young's
Alpine where they are sympatric.
- Reddish Alpine
______ (PW:33) (K:245)
Erebia lozhantshikovi
- Banded Alpine
______ (PW:33) (K:245)
Erebia fasciata
Erebia fasciata avinoffi ______
subspecies in northwestern
Alaska and eastern Russia
Erebia fasciata fasciata ______ subspecies from Nunavit (Canada)
west to central Alaska
The Banded Alpine has, not
surprisingly, prominent gray-felt bands around the hindwings, rather than
the frosting of the Red-disked Alpine.
The Banded Alpine is said to be one of the most beautiful of the EREBIAS.
The female has cocoa banding, even on the wing.
- Mt. McKinley Alpine
______ (PW:32) (K:247)
Erebia mackinleyensis
Erebia
mackinleyensis was described in 1932. It has been considered
conspecific with the Magdalena Alpine, Erebia
magdalena, of the western United
States and Canada north to northern British Columbia. There is a known
isolated population of Erebia magdalena
in Canada in the Yukon, in the Kluane National Park.
The range of Erebia mackinleyensis
is from eastern Siberia through Alaska and in Canada in the Yukon, and
reaching into the Northwest Territories in the Richardson Mountains and into
British Colombia in the Stone Mountain Provincial Park.
Erebia mackinleyensis has reddish
patches on the forewing.
- Red-disked Alpine (*)
______ (PW:33) (K:247)
Erebia discoidalis
In Erebia
discoidalis, the cinnamon coloration smears all over the
chocolate above.
- Theano Alpine
______ (PW:33) (K:247)
Erebia pawloskii alaskensis (was Erebia theano)
The Theano Alpine is very localized, with scattered and isolated
populations. It flies weakly above both moist and dry alpine habitats, often
visiting flowers. Flies midsummer, 1 brood. Biennial.
The ARCTICS are
closely related to the ALPINES. But ARCTICS sport striated
grays and tawnies rather than the dark browns and reds of the ALPINES.
Many ARCTIC butterflies are biennial, taking two years to
develop, and flying only in even or odd years in a given district.
- Chryxus Arctic ______ (PW:33) (K:249)
Oeneis chryxus
Oeneis chryxus caryi ______ subspecies in eastern Alaska, and
east in Canada to boreal Alberta
- Uhler's Arctic
______ (PW:33) (K:249)
Oeneis uhleri
Oeneis uhleri caimesi ______ subspecies in northeast Alaska and
in Yukon and far-northern Northwest Territories (Canada)
- Sentinel Arctic
______ (PW:34) (K:249)
Oeneis alpina
Oeneis alpina excubitor ______ subspecies in northern Alaska,
and in Yukon and the Northwest Territories (Canada), subspecies described in
1982
- White-veined
Arctic ______ (PW:34) (K:251)
Oeneis bore
(or taygete)
Oeneis bore fordi ______ subspecies in western Alaska and in
far eastern Russia, subspecies described in 1949
Oeneis bore hanburyi ______
subspecies in east-central Alaska,
and in the Canadian Arctic east to northeast Manitoba
Oeneis bore mckinleyensis ______
subspecies in the vicinity of
Denali National Park, subspecies described in 1949
Oeneis bore
has a broad, mesial
band, much like that of the Banded Alpine, and "stand-out white
veins" that give it its common name, the White-veined Arctic.
- Melissa Arctic ______ (PW:34) (K:251)
Oeneis melissa
Oeneis melissa gibsoni ______ subspecies in Alaska and western
and northern Yukon (Canada)
There are other species of Oeneis melissa in North
America in the Rocky
Mountains and in eastern North America in the White Mountains of New
Hampshire, and in Newfoundland, Labrador, and Quebec in Canada.
- Philip's Arctic ______ (species
described in 1988)
Oeneis philipi
- Polixenes Arctic
______ (PW:34) (K:251)
Oeneis polixenes
Oeneis polixenes woodi ______
subspecies along the Arctic coast
of Alaska and Yukon (Canada)
- Philip's (Early)
Arctic ______ (PW:34) (K:251)
Oeneis rosovi
- Jutta Arctic
______ (PW:34) (K:253)
Oeneis jutta
Oeneis jutta alaskensis ______ subspecies in Alaska, and east to
Yukon and northern British Columbia (Canada)
SKIPPERS
- Perius Duskywing ______
(PW:38) (K:285)
Erynnis persius
- Grizzled Skipper ______
(PW:38) (K:289)
Pyrgus centaureae
- Arctic Skipper ______ (PW:40) (K:301)
Carterocephalus palaemon
- Common Branded Skipper ______ (PW:41) (K:313)
Hesperia comma
Moths
- Hummingbird Clearwing (ph)
______
Hemaris thysbe
Hummingbird Clearwing
(photo by Howard Eskin)
- Snowberry Clearwing (ph) ______
Hemaris diffinis
Snowberry Clearwing
(photo by Howard Eskin)
- Cerisy's Sphinx (ph) ______
Smerinthus cerisyi
A caterpillar of a Cerisy's, or One-eyed Sphinx
(photo by Sally Brady)
- Gallium Sphinx (or Bedstraw Hawk
Moth) (ph) ______
Hyles gallii
Gallium Sphinx
(photo by Stephen Kloiber)
- Spear-marked Black Moth ______
(in the family Geometridae)
Rheumaptera
hastata
Rheumaptera
hastata is called the Argent
and Sable in Eurasia.
- Rusty Tussock Moth (or
Vapourer) ______ (in the family Lymantriidae)
Orgyia antiqua
- Great Brocade Moth (or Great Gray
Dart) ______ (in the family Noctuidae)
Eurois occulta
- Herald Moth ______ (in
the family Noctuidae)
Scoliopteryx
libatrix
- Arctia opulenta
______ (a
tiger moth)
- Wood Tiger Moth ______
Parasemia plantaginis
- St. Lawrence Tiger Moth ______
Platarctica parthnenos
Platarctica parthnenos was said
to be new for Alaska in August 2009.
LINKS TO OTHER LISTS & PHOTO GALLERIES OF MOTHS IN:
EASTERN NORTH AMERICA
CENTRAL
AMERICA THE CARIBBEAN
SOUTH AMERICA
Some selected reference books regarding Butterflies:
"Butterflies of North America", by Jim Brock & Kenn Kaufmann (with
2,200 images & 70 photographs)
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