Field Guide to the
Butterflies of Kentucky
We are in the process of compiling live photos of all of the butterfly species found in Kentucky. If you have a photo of a species that we're missing (particularly if you photographed it in KY), drop us an email. Distribution maps are provided by Kentucky Butterfly Net.


Mud-Puddling Swallowtails

Houchins Ferry, Mammoth Cave National Park,
Edmonson County, Kentucky, April 17, 2006.

Photo Copyright 2006 Jeff Marcus, not to be used without permission.

Skippers, Family HESPERIIDAE
Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus Map
Long-tailed Skipper Urbanus proteus Map Only six records
Golden-banded Skipper Autochton cellus Map
Hoary Edge Achalarus lyciades Map
Southern Cloudywing Thorybes bathyllus Map
Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades Map
Confused Cloudywing Thorybes confusis Map
Hayhurst's Scallopwing Staphylus hayhurstii Map
Dreamy Duskywing Erynnis icelus Map
Sleepy Duskywing Erynnis brizo Map
Juvenal's Duskywing Erynnis juvenalis Map
Horace's Duskywing Erynnis horatius Map
Mottled Duskywing Erynnis martialis Map
Zarucco Duskywing Erynnis zarucco Map Only one record
Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis Map
Columbine Duskywing Erynnis lucilius Map
Wild Indigo Duskywing Erynnis baptisiae Map
Appalachian Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus centaureae Map Only one record
Common Checkered Skipper Pyrgus communis Map
Common Sootywing Pholisora catullus Map
Swarthy Skipper Nastra lherminier Map
Clouded Skipper Lerema accius Map
Least Skipper Ancyloxypha numitor Map
European Skipper Thymelicus lineola Map
Fiery Skipper Hylephila phyleus Map
Leonard's Skipper Hesperia leonardus Map
Cobweb Skipper Hesperia metea Map
Indian Skipper Hesperia sassacus Map Only one record
Peck's Skipper Polites peckius Map
Tawny-edged Skipper Polites themistocles Map
Cross-line Skipper Polites origenes Map
Southern Broken-Dash Wallengrenia otho Map Only one record
Northern Broken-Dash Wallengrenia egeremet Map
Little Glassywing Pompeius verna Map
Sachem Atalopedes campestris Map
Delaware Skipper Anatrytone logan Map
Hobomok Skipper Poanes hobomok Map
Zabulon Skipper Poanes zabulon Map
Yehl Skipper Poanes yehl Map
Broad-winged Skipper Poanes viator Map
Dion Skipper Euphyes dion Map
Dukes' Skipper Euphyes dukesi Map
Eastern Dunn Skipper Euphyes vestris metacomet Map
Dusted Skipper Atrytonopsis hianna Map
Pepper and Salt Skipper Amblyscirtes hegon Map
Lace-winged Roadside Skipper Amblyscirtes aesculapius Map
Common Roadside Skipper Amblyscirtes vialis Map
Bell's Roadside Skipper Amblyscirtes belli Map
Eufala Skipper Lerodea eufala Map
Ocola Skipper Panoquina ocola Map
Yucca Giant-Skipper Megathymus yuccae Map Only two records

Swallowtails, Family PAPILIONIDAE
Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor Map
Polydamas Swallowtail Battus polydamas Map Only two records
Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes asterius Map
Ozark Swallowtail Papilio joanae Map Only three records
Giant Swallowtail Heraclides cresphontes Map
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Pterourus glaucus Map
Spicebush Swallowtail Pterourus troilus Map
Palamedes Swallowtail Pterourus palamedes Map Only six records
Zebra Swallowtail Eurytides marcellus Map

Whites and Sulfurs, Family PIERIDAE
Checkered White Pontia protodice Map
West Virginia White Pieris virginiensis Map
Cabbage White Pieris rapae Map
Olympia Marble Euchloe olympia Map
Falcate Orangetip Anthocaris midea Map
Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice Map
Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme Map
Southern Dogface Zerene cesonia Map
Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae Map
Orange-barred Sulphur Phoebis philea Map Only three records
Large Orange Sulphur Phoebis agarithe Map Only one record
Lyside Sulphur Kricogonia lyside Map Only three records
Little Sulphur Eurema lisa Map
Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe Map
Mexican Yellow Eureuma mexicanum Map Only one record
Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole Map

Hairstreaks and Blues, Family LYCAENIDAE
Harvester Feniseca tarquinius Map
American Copper Lycaena phlaeas americana Map
Bronze Copper Hyllolycaena hyllus Map
Great Purple Hairstreak Atlides halesus Map
Coral Hairstreak Satyrium titus mopsus Map
Acadian Hairstreak Satyrium acadicum Map Only six records
Edwards' Hairstreak Satyrium edwardsii Map
Banded Hairstreak Satyrium calanus falacer Map
Hickory Hairstreak Satyrium caryaevorum Map
Striped Hairstreak Satyrium liparops strigosum Map
Oak Hairstreak (sometimes also called the 'Northern' Southern Hairstreak) Satyrium favonius ontario Map
Red-banded Hairstreak Calycopis cecrops Map
Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus Map
Brown Elfin Callophrys augustus Map
Frosted Elfin Callophrys irus Map
Henry's Elfin Callophrys henrici Map
Eastern Pine Elfin Callophrys niphon Map
White M Hairstreak Parrhasius m-album Map
Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus Map
Early Hairstreak Erora laeta Map
Marine Blue Leptotes marina Map
Eastern Tailed Blue Everes comyntas Map
Spring Azure Celastrina ladon Map
Summer Azure Celastrina neglecta Map
Appalachian Azure Celastrina neglectamajor Map
Duzky Azure Celastrina nigra Map
Silvery Blue Glaucopsyche lygdamus Map

Metalmarks, Family RIODINIDAE
Northern Metalmark Calephelis borealis Map
Swamp Metalmark Calephelis muticum Map

Brushfoots, Family NYMPHALIDAE
American Snout Libytheana carineta Map
Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae Map
Zebra Longwing Heliconius charithonia Map Only two records
Tiger Longwing Heliconius ismenius Map Only one record, probably an escape
Variagated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia Map
Diana Fritillary Speyeria diana Map
Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele Map
Aphrodite Fritillary Speyeria aphrodite Map
Regal Fritillary Speyeria idalia Map
Silver-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene Map Only one record
Meadow Fritillary Boloria bellona Map
Question Mark Polygonia interrogationis Map
Eastern Comma Polygonia comma Map
Green Comma Polygonia faunus Map Only seven records
Gray Comma Polygonia progne Map Only five records
Compton Tortoiseshell Nymphalis vau-album Map Only one record
Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa Map
Milbert's Tortoiseshell Nymphalis milberti Map
American Lady Vanessa virginiensis Map
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Map
Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta Map
Common Buckeye Junonia coenia Map
White Peacock Anartia jatrophae Map Only one record
Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos Map
Mimic Crescent Phyciodes incognitus Map
Tawny Crescent Phyciodes batesii Map Only eight records
Gorgone Checkerspot Chlosyne gorgone Map Only three records
Silvery Checkerspot Chlosyne nycteis Map
Baltimore Checkerspot Euphydryas phaeton ozarkae Map
White Admiral Limenitis (Basilarchia) arthemis arthemis Map Only one record
Red-Spotted Purple Limenitis (Basilarchia) arthemis astyanax Map
Viceroy Limenitis (Basilarchia) archippus Map
Goatweed Leafwing Anaea andria Map
Hackberry Emperor Asterocampa celtis Map
Tawny Emperor Asterocampa clyton Map

Satyrs, Family SATYRINAE
Southern Pearly-eye Enodia portlandia missarkae Map
Northern Pearly-eye Enodia anthedon Map
Creole Pearly-eye Enodia creola Map
Appalachian Brown Satyrodes appalachia Map
Gemmed Satyr Cyllopsis gemma Map
Carolina Satyr Hermeuptychia sosybius Map
Little Wood-Satyr Megisto cymela Map
Common Wood-Nymph Cercyonis pegala alope Map

Milkweed Butterflies, Family DANAINAE
Monarch Danaus plexippus Map
Queen Danaus gilippus berenice Map Only one record

SELECTED MOTHS
Sphinx Moths, Family SPHINGIDAE
Nessus Sphinx Amphion floridensis Map
Carolina Sphinx Manduca sexta Map
Rustic Sphinx Manduca rustica Map

Giant Silk Moths, Family SATURNIIDAE
Cecropia Moth Hyalophora cecropia Map
Regal Moth Citheronia regalis Map

Back to the Society of Kentucky Lepidopterists
Comments or questions on the format of this page should be directed to marcus@cc.umanitoba.ca
Last Modified: March 2010