[Butterfly Header - North American Butterfly Association]

Butterflies of Kittatinny State Park, Sussex County, New Jersey

DIRECTIONS: Take I-80 to exit 25, Route 206. Continue north on Route 206 to Andover and turn right onto Limecrest Road (Route 669). The entrance to the park is about a mile away on the left. Aeroflex Airport is located at the entrance.

HABITAT: Typical limestone woodland with some open grassy fields.

BUTTERFLY LIST:

Abbreviations are:
A, abundant, likely to see more than 20 individuals per visit to the right spot at the right time
C, common, likely to see 4-20 individuals per visit to the right spot at the right time
U, uncommon, likely to see 0-3 individuals per visit to the right spot at the right time
R, rare, unlikely to see any individuals even at the right spots at the right time
S, stray, vagrant, not seen most years

E, early in month
M, middle of month
L, late in month

Numbers refer to months. For example, the first species, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, is uncommon to common from May through September.
Swallowtails Family Papilionidae
Frequency
Season
__Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
U-C
5-9

Whites and Sulphurs Family Pieridae
Frequency
Season
__Cabbage White
C-A
4-10
__Clouded Sulphur
U
4-10
__Orange Sulphur
C
4-10

Gossamer Wings Family Lycaenidae
Frequency
Season
__Summer Azure
U-C
M6-9

Brush-footed Butterflies Family Nymphalidae
Frequency
Season
__Variegated Fritillary
S
7-9
__Pearl Crescent
C
5-9
__Viceroy
U
M4-E10
__Appalachian Brown
U
7
__Little Wood-Satyr
C-A
L5-7
__Common Wood-Nymph
U-C
L6-9

Milkweed Butterflies Family Danaidae
Frequency
Season
__Monarch
C
6-10

Skippers Family Hesperiidae
Frequency
Season
__Silver-spotted Skipper
C
5-9
__Hoary Edge
U
E6-M7
__Northern Cloudywing
U-C
L6-7
__European Skipper
C
6-E7
__Fiery Skipper
S
8-9
__Peck's Skipper
C-A
L5-9
__Tawny-edged Skipper
U
L6-7
__Long Dash
R
L6-7
__Mulberry Wing
U
7
__Hobomok Skipper
U
L5-E7

BEST TIME AND SPOTS TO VISIT: In terms of the largest variety of species, the best time to visit is from late June to mid-July. The grassy areas by the parking lot can be good for skippers, including Hoary Edge. Also walk south along the airport along the west edge of Gardners Pond.

SPECIALTIES: Hoary Edge, Mulberry Wing.

NOTES: There are picnic tables and primitive toilets next to the main parking lot.

31 Jan 2000 / Main New Jersey Page