Butterflies of West Virginia

Family Hesperiidae (skippers)

Achalarus

Achalarus lyciades (hoary edge)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Amblyscirtes

Amblyscirtes hegon (pepper and salt skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  County distribution map.

Amblyscirtes vialis (common roadside-skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Anatrytone

Anatrytone logan (Delaware skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Ancyloxypha

Ancyloxypha numitor (least skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Atalopedes

Atalopedes campestris (sachem)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult female, ventral view of wings.
• 
  Adult male, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Atrytonopsis

Atrytonopsis hianna (dusted skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Autochton

Autochton cellus (golden-banded skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  County distribution map.

Epargyreus

Epargyreus clarus (silver-spotted skipper)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Erynnis

Erynnis baptisiae (wild indigo duskywing)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Erynnis brizo (sleepy duskywing)

• 
  Mating, dorsal view.
• 
  County distribution map.

Erynnis horatius (Horace's duskywing)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Erynnis icelus (dreamy duskywing)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  County distribution map.

Erynnis juvenalis (Juvenal's duskywing)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Erynnis lucilius (columbine duskywing)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  County distribution map.

Erynnis martialis (mottled duskywing)

• 
• 
• 
  County distribution map.

Erynnis persius (persius duskywing)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 

Euphyes

Euphyes bimacula (two-spotted skipper)

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  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Euphyes conspicua (black dash)

• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings
• 
  County distribution map.

Euphyes vestris (dun skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view of wings.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Hesperia

Hesperia leonardus (Leonard's skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
• 
  County distribution map.

Hesperia metea (cobweb skipper)

• 
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Hesperia sassacus (Indian skipper)

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• 
  County distribution map.

Hylephila

Hylephila phyleus (fiery skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
• 
  County distribution map.

Lerema

Lerema accius (clouded skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Nastra

Nastra lherminier (swarthy skipper)

• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Panoquina

Panoquina ocola (ocola skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Pholisora

Pholisora catullus (common sootywing)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Caterpillar enrolled in leaf.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
• 
  County distribution map.

Poanes

Poanes hobomok (Hobomok skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Poanes zabulon (Zabulon skipper)

• 
  Adult female, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult male, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult female, ventral view of wings.
• 
  Adult male, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Polites

Polites mystic (long dash skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Polites origenes (crossline skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Polites peckius (Peck's skipper)

• 
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
• 
  County distribution map.

Polites themistocles (tawny-edged skipper)

• 
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
• 
  County distribution map.

Polites vibex (whirlabout)

• 
  Adult female, ventral view of wings.
• 
  Adult male, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult male, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Pompeius

Pompeius verna (little glassywing)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Pyrgus

Pyrgus centaureae (grizzled skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
• 
  County distribution map.

Pyrgus communis (common checkered-skipper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
• 
  County distribution map.

Staphylus

Staphylus hayhurstii (Hayhurst's Scallopwing)

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  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  County distribution map.

Thorybes

Thorybes bathyllus (southern cloudywing)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
• 
  County distribution map.

Thorybes pylades (northern cloudywing)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Thymelicus

Thymelicus lineola (European skipper)

• 
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Urbanus

Urbanus proteus (long-tailed skipper)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Caterpillar sheltering under enrolled leaf.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 

Wallengrenia

Wallengrenia egeremet (northern broken dash)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  County distribution map.

Family Lycaenidae (gossamer-winged butterflies)

Atlides

Atlides halesus (great purple hairstreak)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view (left) and ventral view.
• 
  County distribution map.

Callophrys

Callophrys augustinus (brown elfin)

• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Callophrys irus (frosted elfin)

• 
  Adult male (left) and female in dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
• 
  County distribution map.

Callophrys gryneus (juniper hairstreak)

• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Callophrys henrici (Henry's elfin)

• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Callophrys niphon (eastern pine elfin)

• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Callophrys polios (hoary elfin)

• 
• 
• 
  County distribution map.

Calycopis

Calycopis cecrops (red-banded hairstreak)

• 
  Adult in dorsal view (left) and ventral view.
• 
  County distribution map.

Celastrina

Celastrina ladon (spring azure)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Celastrina neglectamajor (Appalachian azure)

• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Celastrina nigra (dusky azure)

• 
  County distribution map.

Cupido

Cupido comyntas (eastern tailed blue)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Erora

Erora laeta (early hairstreak)

• 
  County distribution map.

Feniseca

Feniseca tarquinius (harvester)

• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult, posterior view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Glaucopsyche

Glaucopsyche lygdamus (silvery blue)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Lycaena

Lycaena epixanthe (bog copper)

• 
  Adult, anterodorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Lycaena hyllus (bronze copper)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Lycaena phlaeas (American copper)

• 
  Egg, close-up view.
• 
  Egg, distant view.
• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Parrhasius

Parrhasius m-album (white M hairstreak)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view of wings.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Satyrium

Satyrium calanus (banded hairstreak)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view of wings.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Satyrium caryaevorum (hickory hairstreak)

• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Satyrium edwardsii (Edwards' hairstreak)

• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Satyrium favonius (southern hairstreak)

• 
• 
  County distribution map.

Satyrium liparops (striped hairstreak)

• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Satyrium titus (coral hairstreak)

• 
  Adult female, dorsal view of wings.
• 
  Adult female, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Strymon

Strymon melinus (gray hairstreak)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
• 
  County distribution map.

Family Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies)

Aglais

Aglais milberti (Milbert's tortoiseshell)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Asterocampa

Asterocampa celtis (hackberry emperor)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Asterocampa clyton (tawny emperor)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Boloria

Boloria bellona (meadow fritillary)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Boloria selene (silver-bordered fritillary)

• 
  Adult female, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult male, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Cercyonis

Cercyonis pegala (common wood-nymph)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Chlosyne

Chlosyne gorgone (gorgone checkerspot)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Chlosyne harrisii (Harris' checkerspot)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Chlosyne nycteis (silvery checkerspot)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Cyllopsis

Cyllopsis gemma (gemmed satyr)

• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Danaus

Danaus plexippus (monarch)

• 
  Egg, distant view.
• 
  Egg, close-up view.
• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult female, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult female. Green ovals denote the location where black spots would be found if the specimen were male.
• 
  Adult male, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  Comparison of the wings in ventral view of a monarch (left) and its viceroy mimic (Limenitis archippus).
• 
  County distribution map.

Enodia

Enodia anthedon (northern pearly-eye)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Euphydryas

Euphydryas phaeton (Baltimore checkerspot)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Euptoieta

Euptoieta claudia (variegated fritillary)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Hermeuptychia

Hermeuptychia sosybius (Carolina satyr)

• 
  Egg, caterpillar, and pupa.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Junonia

Junonia coenia (common buckeye)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Libytheana

Libytheana carinenta (American snout)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Limenitis

Limenitis archippus (viceroy)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  Comparison of the wings in ventral view of a monarch (Danaus plexippus, left) and its viceroy mimic.
• 
  County distribution map.

Limenitis arthemis (red-spotted purple)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
• 
  County distribution map.

Megisto

Megisto cymela (little wood satyr)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Nymphalis

Nymphalis antiopa (mourning cloak)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Nymphalis vaualbum (Compton tortoiseshell)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Phyciodes

Phyciodes batesii (tawny crescent)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  County distribution map.

Phyciodes cocyta (northern crescent)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Phyciodes tharos (pearl crescent)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Polygonia

Polygonia comma (eastern comma)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Polygonia faunus (green comma)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view (left) and ventral view.
• 
  County distribution map.

Polygonia interrogationis (question mark)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Polygonia progne (gray comma)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Satyrodes

Satyrodes appalachia (Appalachian brown)

• 
  Adult, posterior view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Satyrodes eurydice (eyed brown)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.

Speyeria

Speyeria aphrodite (Aphrodite fritillary)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Speyeria atlantis (Atlantis fritillary)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Speyeria cybele (great spangled fritillary)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Speyeria diana (diana fritillary)

• 
  Adult male, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Speyeria idalia (regal fritillary)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Vanessa

Vanessa atalanta (red admiral)

• 
  Egg, distant view.
• 
  Egg, close-up view.
• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Vanessa cardui (painted lady)

• 
  Egg, close-up view.
• 
  Egg, distant view.
• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Vanessa virginiensis (American painted lady)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Family Papilionidae (swallowtails)

Battus

Battus philenor (pipevine swallowtail)

• 
  Eggs and early instar caterpillar.
• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Papilio

Papilio canadensis (Canadian tiger swallowtail)

• 
  Caterpillar, green variant.
• 
  Caterpillar, brown variant.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  County distribution map.

Papilio cresphontes (giant swallowtail)

• 
  Egg, close-up view.
• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Papilio glaucus (eastern tiger swallowtail)

• 
  Eggs, distant view.
• 
  Egg, close-up view.
• 
  Early instar caterpillar.
• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult male, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult male, ventral view of wings.
• 
  Adult female, dorsal view of wings.
• 
  Adult female dark morph, mimic of the pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor), dorsal view.
• 
  Adult female dark morph, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Papilio polyxenes (black swallowtail)

• 
  Eggs, distant view.
• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult male, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult female, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Papilio troilus (spicebush swallowtail)

• 
  Early instar caterpillar.
• 
  Caterpillar, green variant.
• 
  Caterpillar, brown variant.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult male, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult female, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Protographium

Protographium marcellus (zebra swallowtail)

• 
  Egg, green variant (left) and brown variant.
• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis, brown variant.
• 
  Chrysalis, green variant.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult female laying eggs, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Family Pieridae

Anthocharis

Anthocharis midea (falcate orangetip)

• 
  Adult female, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult male, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Colias

Colias eurytheme (orange sulphur)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Colias interior (pink-edged sulphur)

• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Colias philodice (clouded sulphur)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Euchloe

Euchloe olympia (Olympia marble)

• 
  Adult, left half in dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Eurema

Eurema lisa (little yellow)

• 
  Adult female, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult female, ventral view of wings.
• 
  Adult male, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Eurema nicippe (sleepy orange)

• 
  Egg, distant view.
• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Phoebis

Phoebis sennae (cloudless sulphur)

• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult female, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult female, ventral view of wings.
• 
  Adult male, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult male, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Pieris

Pieris rapae (cabbage white)

• 
  Eggs, distant view.
• 
  Egg, close-up view.
• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult male, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult female, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Pieris virginiensis (West Virginia white)

• 
  Adult, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Pontia

Pontia protodice (checkered white)

• 
  Egg, close-up view.
• 
  Caterpillar.
• 
  Chrysalis.
• 
  Adult female, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult female, ventral view of wings.
• 
  Adult male, dorsal view.
• 
  Adult female, ventral view of wings.
• 
  County distribution map.

Family Riodinidae

Calephelis

Calephelis borealis (northern metalmark)

• 
  Adult, dorsal view.
• 
  County distribution map.