SPECIES

HOSTPLANTS

AREAS

SEASON

Abun-
dance

SWALLOWTAILS 

Pipevine Swallowtail 
(Battus philenor)

Pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa)

Open woods;
Fields with flowers

Apr-Nov

C

Black Swallowtail
(Papilio polyxenes)

Wild parsley,
Queen Anne’s lace

Open fields; flowers. Flies low.

Mar-Oct

C

E. Tiger Swallowtail
(Papilio glaucus)

Green ash, others

Open fields, flowers. Flies high

Mar-Oct

C 

Giant Swallowtail
(Papilio cresphontes)

Prickly ash; hop tree; Ruta graveolens

Open fields; flowers

Mar-Oct

C

WHITES &  SULPHURS

Checkered White
(Pieris protodice)

Brassicaceae: mustards, pepper grass, etc.

Open sunny areas; flowers

Feb-Nov.

U

Cabbage White
(Pieris rapae

Brassicaceae: cabbage, mustards,
etc.

Open sunny areas; flowers

Feb-Nov

C

Falcate Orangetip 
(Anthocharis midea)

Rockcress 
(Arabis)

Open woods; fields

Feb-Apr

R

Olympia Marble
(Euchloe olympia)

Rockcress; hedge mustard

Open fields; flowers

Mar-Apr

R

Orange Sulphur
(Colias eurytheme)

Alfalfa, vetch. Medicago, etc.

Open fields; flowers

Jan-Dec

A

Southern Dogface
(Colias cesonia)

Partridge pea; other Senna

Open fields; flowers

Mar-Oct

U

Cloudless Sulphur 
(Phoebis sennae)

Cassia

Open fields, gardens, flowers

Apr-Nov

C

Large Orange Sulphur 
(Phoebis agarithe)

Cassia, other legumes

Open fields, gardens, flowers

July-Sept

R

Lyside Sulphur
(Kricogonia lyside)

A legume

Open areas; gardens

Mar-June

U

Little Sulphur
(Eurema lisa)

Pea family

Open areas; flowers

Mar-Oct

C

Mexican Yellow
(Eurema mexicana)

Partridge pea, others

Open areas; flowers

June-Oct

U

Sleepy Orange
(Eurema nicippe)

Two-leaf senna; partridge pea

Open areas; flowers

Jan-Dec

C

Dainty Sulphur
(Nathalis iola)

Greenthread
(Thelesperma)

Open fields; flowers. Flies low

Jan-Dec

A

GOSSAMER WINGS (Blues and Hairstreaks)

Harvester
(Feniseca tarquinius)

Carnivorous: woolly aphids.

Woodlands; often near streams

Mar-Sept

R  ***

Great Purple Hairstreak
(Atlides halesus)

Mistletoe

Woods; flowers

Mar-Nov

C

Soapberry Hairstreak
(Phaeostrymon alcestis)

Soapberry;
Mexican buckeye

Fields; open woodlands; flowers

Apr-June

C  

Coral Hairstreak
(Satyrium titus)

Wild plum

Open woods; flowers

May-June

R   ***

Banded Hairstreak
 (Satyrium calanus)

Oaks

Open woods; flowers

Apr-June

U

Oak Hairstreak
(Satyrium favonius)

Oaks

Open woods; flowers

Apr-June

U

Juniper Hairstreak
(Callophrys gryneus)

Juniper

Fields; flowers

Apr-Oct

U-C

Henry’s Elfin
(Callophrys henrici)

Redbud; bluebonnet; Mexican buckeye

Woods; fields

Feb-Apr

C

White M Hairstreak 
(Parrhasius m-album)

Oaks

Woodlands; flowers

Apr-Oct

U

Red-banded Hairstreak
(Calycopis cecrops)

Sumac (Rhus copalina); leaf litter

Open woods; fields

Apr-Oct

U

Dusky-blue Groundstreak
(Calycopis isobeon)

Leaf litter; detritus

Shaded woods

Apr-Sept

U

Gray Hairstreak
(Strymon melinus)

Buds and flowers 

Fields, gardens; flowers

Mar-Nov

A

Western Pigmy-Blue 
(Brephidium exile)

Saltbush; lambsquarters

Open fields; flowers

July-Oct

O

Marine Blue
(Leptotes marina)

Various pea family species

Open sunny areas; flowers

Apr-Sept

U

Ceraunus Blue
(Hemiargus ceraunus)

Peas, other legumes

Open sunny areas; flowers

Apr-Sept

U

Reakirt’s Blue
(Hemiargus isola)

Daleas, other legumes

Open sunny areas; flowers

May-Nov

A

Eastern Tailed-Blue 
(Everes comyntas)

Various pea and beans

Open sunny areas

Apr-Oct

C

Spring Azure
(Celastrina ladon)

Flowers, fruits of many plants

Open areas; flowers

Mar-Oct

R

BRUSH-FOOTED BUTTERFLIES

Monarch
(Danaus plexippus)

Milkweed
(Asclepias)

Open fields; flowers

Mar-June;
Sept-Oct

C

Queen
(Danaus gilippus)

Milkweed, including vines

Open fields; flowers

May-Oct

A

Question Mark
(Polygonia interrogationis)

Elms, hackberry

Open woods; gardens

Jan-Dec

C

Mourning Cloak 
(Nymphalis antiopa)

Willows, others

Open woods;

Jan-Apr
Nov-Dec

U

American Lady
(Vanessa virginiensis)

Cudweed, other composites

Open woods; fields, flowers

Mar-Nov

C

Painted Lady
(Vanessa cardui)

Thistles, other composites

Open woods, fields, flowers

Mar-Nov

C

Red Admiral
(Vanessa atalanta)

Nettle; false nettle

Open woods; flowers

Jan-Dec

C

Common Buckeye
(Junonia coenia)

Toadflax; gerardia; plantain

Open fields; sandy areas

Jan-Dec

C

Red-Spotted Purple 
(Limenitis arthemis astyanax)

Willows, cottonwood, etc.

Open woods; shady areas

Apr-Oct

U 

Viceroy
(Limenitis archippus)

Willows
(Salix)

Open areas; near waterways

Apr-Oct

U

California Sister
(Adelpha bredowii)

Oaks

Open areas. Flies high

Apr-Oct

R  ***

Common Mestra
(Mestra amymone)

[Tube-tongue] 
(not in this area)

Open fields and woods

 Sept-Oct

R  ***

Goatweed Leafwing 
(Anaea andria)

Croton

Wooded areas

Jan-Dec

C 

Gorgone Checkerspot 
(Chlosyne gorgone)

Cowpen daisy; sunflowers

Open areas; gardens; flowers

Apr-Oct

U

Silvery Checkerspot
(Chlosyne nycteis)

Various composites

Open areas; flowers

May-Oct

U

Bordered Patch
(Chlosyne lacinia)

Cowpen daisy; ragweed; others

Open areas with flowers

June-Oct

U

Texan Crescent
(Phyciodes texana)

Acanthus family

Open woods; gardens; flowers

June-Nov

U

Phaon Crescent
(Phyciodes phaon)

Frogfruit
(Phyla)

Fields; gardens; flowers

Apr-Nov

A

Pearl Crescent
(Phyciodes tharos)

Native asters

Flowers in fields, gardens

Mar-Nov

A

Vesta Crescent
(Phyciodes vesta)

[Tubetongue]

Open barren areas; low flowers

May-Oct

R  ***

Hackberry Emperor 
(Asterocampa celtis)

 Hackberry 
(Celtis)

Open woods; gardens

Apr-Nov

A

Tawny Emperor 
(Asterocampa clyton)

Hackberry; elm

Open woods; gardens

Apr-Nov

C 

Gulf Fritillary
(Agraulis vanillae)

Passionvines
(Passiflora)

Open sunny areas; flowers

Apr-Nov

A

Zebra Heliconian
(Heliconius charithonius)

Passionvines
(Passiflora)

Open sunny areas; flowers

June-Nov

U

Julia Heliconian
(Dryas julia)

Passionvines
(Passiflora)

Open sunny areas; flowers

Aug-Oct

R  ***

Variegated Fritillary
(Euptoieta claudia)

Flax; violets; passionvine

Open fields; flowers

Jan-Dec

C

Common Wood-Nymph 
(Cercyonis pegala)

Grasses

Grassy areas in woods

May-Nov

U 

Little Wood-Satyr
(Megisto cymela)

Grasses

Woods with grasses

May-Nov

U 

Red Satyr
(Megisto rubricata)

Grasses

Wooded hill sides; grasses

June-Oct

R 

Gemmed Satyr
(Cyllopsis gemma)

Grasses

Woods; stream beds;  grasses

Apr-Oct

U

American Snout
(Libytheana carinenta)

Hackberries, elms

Open areas with flowers

Jan-Dec

C

SKIPPERS

SPREAD-WING SKIPPERS

Silver-spotted Skipper 
(Epargyreus clarus)

 Amorpha spp;
wisteria, etc.

Open areas; flowers

Apr-Nov

C

Long-tailed Skipper
(Urbanus proteus)

Bean vines

Open areas; flowers

May-Oct

O ***

Hoary Edge
(Achalarus lyciades)

Tick-trefoil

Open woods; flowers

Apr-Sept

U

Northern Cloudywing 
(Thorybes pylades)

Pea family

Open woods; fields

Mar-Sept

C 

Southern Cloudywing 
(Thorybes bathyllus)

Pea family

Prairie hills and other open areas

May-Oct

R   ***

Confused Cloudywing 
(Thorybes confusis)

Pea family

Open woods

Apr-Aug

R   ***

Outis Skipper
(Cogia outis)

Acacia

Open hillsides; sunny areas

Mar-Oct

U   ***

Hayhurst’s Scallopwing  
(Staphylus hayhurstii)

Lambsquarters
(Chenopodium album)

Open sunny areas; gardens

Mar-Oct

C

Sickle-winged Skipper 
(Achlyodes thraso)

Prickly-ash

Wood edges; gardens

 Sept-Oct

O   ***

Sleepy Duskywing
(Erynnis brizo)

Oaks

Open woods with oak scrub

Mar-May

R   ***

Juvenal’s Duskywing 
(Erynnis juvenalis)

Oaks

Oak woodlands; flowers

Mar-June

U

Horace’s Duskywing 
(Erynnis horatius)

Oaks

Open woods; fields, gardens with flowers

Apr-Oct

C

Funereal Duskywing 
(Erynnis funeralis)

Sesbania, 
others in pea family

Wood edges; Flowers

Mar-Nov

C

Wild Indigo Duskywing 
(Erynnis baptisiae)

Wild indigo; vetches; others in pea family

Open woods; fields

Apr-Sept

U

Common Checkered-Skipper 
(Pyrgus communis)

Mallow family

Open areas; fields; flowers
Flies low

Jan-Dec

C

Tropical Checkered-Skipper 
(Pyrgus oileus)

Mallow family

Open woods; fields

Mar-Oct

R   ***

GRASS SKIPPERS (=FOLDED WING SKIPPERS)

Swarthy Skipper
(Nastra lherminier)

Grasses

Fields; barrens

Apr-Sept

R   ***

Julia’s Skipper
(Nastra julia

Grasses

Open areas; lawns; flowers

Apr-Oct

C

Clouded Skipper
(Lerema accius)

Grasses

Wood edges; clearings

Apr-Oct

C

Least Skipper
(Ancyloxypha numitor)

Grasses

Moist open areas.
Weak flight

Apr-Oct

U

Orange Skipperling 
(Copaeodes  aurantiacus)

Grasses

Moist areas; along  streams

Mar-Oct

U

Southern Skipperling 
(Copaeodes  minimus)

Grasses

Moist  open areas

Mar-Oct

C

Fiery Skipper
(Hylephila phyleus)

Grasses

Sunny areas; flowers

May-Sept

A

Broad-winged Skipper 
(Poanes viator)

Grasses

Shrubby marshes

Apr-Oct

R   ***

Cobweb Skipper
(Hesperia metea)

Grasses

Fields; Flies low

Apr-June

R   ***

Green Skipper
(Hesperia viridis)

Grasses

Open fields; Prairies

Apr-June
Aug-Nov

U   ***

Dotted Skipper
(Hesperia attalus)

Grasses

Short-grass prairies

May-Sept

R   ***

Meske’s Skipper
(Hesperia meskei)

Grasses

Open areas; pinelands

May-June
Sept-Oct

R   ***

Whirlabout
(Polites vibex)

Grasses

Open areas; yards, gardens

Apr-Sept

U

Southern Broken-Dash 
(Wallengrenia otho) 

Grasses

Woodland edges, moist areas

Apr-Oct

U

Northern Broken-Dash 
(Wallengrenia egeremet)

Grasses

Open areas near woods

May-Oct

U

Little Glassywing
(Pompeius verna)

Grasses

Open woodland edges

May-Sept

U   ***

Sachem
(Atalopedes campestris)

Grasses

Open sunny areas’ flowers

Mar-Nov

A

Arogos Skipper
(Atrytone arogos)

Grasses

Prairies; open fields

Apr-Sept

R    ***

Delaware Skipper
(Anatrytone logan)

Grasses

Moist grass lands; sedge marshes

May-Oct

C

Broad-winged Skipper 
(Poanes viator)

Common reed
(Phragmites communis)

Marshy areas

June-Sept

R   ***

Zabulon Skipper
(Poanes zabulon)

Grasses

Open wood lands; flowers

Apr-Oct

C

Dion Skipper
(Euphyes dion)

Sedges (Carex)

Moist open areas; marshes

May-June
Aug-Oct

U

Dun Skipper
(Euphyes vestris)

Sedges (Carex)

Moist areas near woodlands

May-Oct

C

Dusted Skipper
(Atrytonopsis hianna)

Bluestem

Prairies; open fields

Apr-June

R   ***

Bronze Roadside-Skipper 
(Amblyscirtes aenus)

Grasses

Open woodlands

Apr-Sept

R   ***

Nysa Roadside-Skipper 
(Amblyscirtes nysa)

Grasses

Dry rocky ravines, wood edges

Mar-Oct

U

Common Roadside-Skipper
(Amblyscirtes vialis)

Grasses

Woodland edges

Apr-Oct

C

Celia’s Roadside-Skipper
(Amblyscirtes celia)

Grasses

Openings in woods; flowers

May-Sept

C

Bell’s Roadside-Skipper
(Amblyscirtes belli)

Grasses

Woody ravines; moist woodlands

Mar-Oct

U

Eufala Skipper
(Lerodea eufala)

Grasses

Open sunny areas

June-Oct

C

Brazilian Skipper
(Calpodes ethlius)

Cannas

Sunny gardens with cannas

June-Oct

U

Ocola Skipper
(Panoquina ocola)

Aquatic grasses

Low, moist fields; forest edges

July-Oct

U

GIANT SKIPPER

Yucca Giant-Skipper 
(Megathymus yuccae)

Yucca

Hillsides; old fields

Mar-May

U    ***

ACCIDENTALS AND SPECIES RARELY IN THE AREA

All ***

Great Southern White 
(Ascia monuste)

Mustard family;
caper family

1 record in area; fairly common on Texas coast

Summer

R

Frosted Elfin 
(Callophrys irus)

Wild indigo

Woodlands

Apr-May       

No recent records

Striped Hairstreak 
(Satyrium liparops)

cherry

Woodlands. East Texas species

May

R

Mexican Fritillary
(Euptoieta hegesia)

Passionvines
(Passiflora)

Sunny open areas

July-Oct?

R

White-patched Skipper
(Chiomara georgina)

Barbados cherry (Malpighia glabra)

R

Mottled Duskywing 
(Erynnis martialis)

New Jersey Tea
(Ceanothus americanus)

Open areas

Mar-June

R

Common Streaky-Skipper 
(Celotes nessus)

Mallows

Open areas with scrub

May-Aug?

R

Dotted Roadside-Skipper 
(Amblyscirtes eos)

Grasses

Oak woodlands. West-Texas species. May enter this area

June-Oct?

R