Jericho Vermont Butterflies: Species Not Yet Recorded & How to Help the Vermont Butterfly Atlas

Jericho residents: let’s document our butterflies—together.

Right now, there are butterfly species known from across Vermont that have never been recorded in Jericho. That’s not because they aren’t here—it’s because no one has documented them yet. This is a real, local data gap we can close as a community.

By observing and posting butterflies from your yard, road, trail, or field, you can directly strengthen Jericho’s record in the Vermont Butterfly Atlas—a statewide effort tracking species distribution and abundance. Every observation counts. A single clear photo from your backyard could be the first verified record of that species in town.

We’re looking for community scientists, naturalists, photographers, families, and anyone who spends time outdoors in Jericho to take part. No special expertise required—just curiosity and a willingness to look closely.

Three Tables of Data:

1. Below is a list of VT butterfly species not yet documented (via iNaturalist) in Jericho. This is our Jericho target list—the species we have the best chance of adding to Jericho’s record with focused effort this season.

2. Further below, you’ll also find a full list of all butterfly species recorded across Vermont. Each species includes a VAL (Vermont Atlas of Life) hotlink for quick access to identification details, flight periods, habitat associations, and host plants.

3. The last chart lists the primary and secondary host plants for each butterfly species.

How You Can Help

• Focus on Jericho - or elsewhere in Vermont - but why go further when we have so much to enjoy here!
• Visit sites at least once per month (May–September)
• Photograph all butterflies observed (even common species)
• Upload records to eButterfly or iNaturalist
• Prioritize species on the “not yet recorded in Jericho” list
• Note habitat, behavior, and host plant associations when possible
• Provide appropriate habitat - host plants for butterflies.

Jericho has the habitat. The species are out there. What’s missing is the documentation.

Let’s fix that—one observation at a time.

Why This Matters

• Creates a baseline we—and future residents—will rely on decades from now
• Supports conservation prioritization and trend analysis
• Even a single well-documented observation can meaningfully expand what we know about butterflies in Jericho.

Need assistance? If you’re seeing butterflies in your yard but aren’t able to photograph or upload them to iNaturalist, contact Bernie—he can photograph and post observations in yout yard so they count toward the Vermont Butterfly Atlas.

1. This first chart is a list of butterflies not yet recorded in Jericho (on iNaturalist). 

Butterflies of Vermont	Flight period in Champlain Valley unless otherwise noted.	VT Atlas of Life
(Common name — Scientific name)	Flight period	Species Profile
Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)
Aphrodite Fritillary — Speyeria aphrodite	June 25 – Aug 20	VAL
Appalachian Eyed Brown — Lethe appalachia	June 15 – Aug 1	VAL
California Tortoiseshell — Nymphalis californica		VAL
Common Buckeye — Junonia coenia	May-Oct	VAL
Gray Comma — Polygonia progne	Mar-Oct	VAL
Green Comma — Polygonia faunus	Apr-Oct: VT	VAL
Jutta Arctic [Baltic Gray] — Oeneis jutta	May-June: VT	VAL
Meadow Fritillary — Boloria bellona	May 25 – Sept 1	VAL
Red-spotted Purple — Limenitis arthemis astyanax	June 10 – Aug 20	VAL
Regal Fritillary — Speyeria idalia	July: VT	VAL
Silvery Checkerspot — Chlosyne nycteis	June-July: VT	VAL
Variegated Fritillary — Euptoieta claudia	July 1 – Oct 1 (migrant)	VAL
Gossamer-winged Butterflies (Lycaenidae)
Acadian Hairstreak — Satyrium acadica	June-Aug: VT	VAL
Bog Copper — Lycaena epixanthe	June-Aug: VT	VAL
Brown Elfin — Callophrys augustinus	April-June: VT	VAL
Cherry Gall Azure — Celastrina serotina	April-June: VT	VAL
Common Blue — Polyommatus icarus	May-Oct: VT	VAL
Coral Hairstreak — Satyrium titus	June-Aug: VT	VAL
Early Hairstreak — Erora laeta	May-Aug: VT	VAL
Edwards' Hairstreak — Satyrium edwardsii	July: VT	VAL
Frosted Elfin — Callophrys lanoraieensis	May: VT	VAL
Gray Hairstreak — Strymon melinus	May-Oct: VT	VAL
Henry's Elfin — Callophrys polia [Callophrys henrici]	Apr-May: VT	VAL
Hickory Hairstreak — Satyrium caryaevorus	June-Aug: VT	VAL
Juniper Hairstreak — Callophrys grynea	May-Aug	VAL
White-M Hairstreak — Parrhasius m-album	May, July-Sept: VT	VAL
Skippers (Hesperiidae)
Black Dash — Euphyes conspicua	July-Aug: VT	VAL
Broad-winged Skipper — Poanes viator	July 1 – Aug 15	VAL
Cobweb Skipper — Hesperia metea	June: VT	VAL
Common Branded Skipper — Hesperia comma	Aug-Sept: VT	VAL
Common Checkered-Skipper — Pyrgus communis	Aug-Oct: VT	VAL
Common Roadside-Skipper — Amblyscirtes vialis	May-July: VT	VAL
Common Sootywing — Pholisora catullus	May-Sept: VT	VAL
Crossline Skipper — Polites origenes	June 20 – Aug 15	VAL
Dreamy Duskywing — Erynnis icelus	May 1 – June 10	VAL
Dusted Skipper — Atrytonopsis hianna	May-June: VT	VAL
Fiery Skipper — Hylephila phyleus	Aug-Sept: VT	VAL
Horace’s Duskywing — Erynnis horatius	May 10 – July 1	VAL
Indian Skipper — Hesperia sassacus	May-July: VT	VAL
Juvenal’s Duskywing — Erynnis juvenalis	May 1 – June 15	VAL
Leonard’s Skipper — Hesperia leonardus	July-Sept: VT	VAL
Little Glassywing — Pompeius verna	May-Aug: VT	VAL
Long-tailed Skipper — Urbanus proteus	Sept: VT	VAL
Northern Cloudywing — Thorybes pylades	May 20 – July 1	VAL
Persius Duskywing — Erynnis persius		VAL
Sleepy Duskywing — Erynnis brizo	June: VT	VAL
Southern Cloudywing — Thorybes bathyllus	June 1 – Aug 1	VAL
Two-spotted Skipper — Euphyes bimacula	June-July: VT	VAL
Swallowtails (Papilionidae)
Spicebush Swallowtail — Papilio troilus	June-Oct: VT	VAL
Whites & Sulphurs (Pieridae)
Cloudless Sulphur — Phoebis sennae	May-Aug: Vt	VAL
Little Yellow — Pyrisitia lisa	June-Sept: Vt	VAL
Mustard White — Pieris oleracea	June: VT	VAL
Orange Sulphur — Colias eurytheme	May-Dec: VT	VAL
Pink-edged Sulphur — Colias interior	May-Sept: VT	VAL

2. This list is a comprehensive list of butterflies recorded in Vermont, based primarily on the Vermont Center for Ecostudies / Vermont Butterfly Atlas species accounts. 

	Butterflies of Vermont	Flight period in Champlain Valley unless otherwise noted.	VT Atlas of Life
Link to Jericho Observations	(Common name — Scientific name)	Flight period	Species Profile
	Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)
J	American Lady — Vanessa virginiensis		VAL
J	American Red Admiral — Vanessa atalanta rubria	April 10 – Oct 20	VAL
J	American Snout — Libytheana carinenta	July 15 – Oct 10 (irregular)	VAL
	Aphrodite Fritillary — Speyeria aphrodite	June 25 – Aug 20	VAL
	Appalachian Eyed Brown — Lethe appalachia	June 15 – Aug 1	VAL
J	Atlantis Fritillary — Speyeria atlantis		VAL
J	Baltimore Checkerspot — Euphydryas phaeton	June 10 – July 10	VAL
	California Tortoiseshell — Nymphalis californica		VAL
	Common Buckeye — Junonia coenia	May-Oct	VAL
J	Common Ringlet — Coenonympha california		VAL
J	Common Wood-Nymph — Cercyonis pegala	June 25 – Aug 20	VAL
J	Compton Tortoiseshell — Nymphalis l-album ssp. j-album	April 1 – June 15	VAL
J	Eastern Comma — Polygonia comma	Eastern Comma — April 1 – Oct 20	VAL
J	Eyed Brown — Lethe eurydice	June 25 – Aug 10	VAL
	Gray Comma — Polygonia progne	Mar-Oct	VAL
J	Great Spangled Fritillary — Speyeria cybele		VAL
	Green Comma — Polygonia faunus	Apr-Oct: VT	VAL
J	Hackberry Emperor — Asterocampa celtis	June 20 – Aug 15	VAL
J	Harris’s Checkerspot — Chlosyne harrisii		VAL
	Jutta Arctic [Baltic Gray] — Oeneis jutta	May-June: VT	VAL
J	Little Wood Satyr — Megisto cymela	May 25 – July 5	VAL
	Meadow Fritillary — Boloria bellona	May 25 – Sept 1	VAL
J	Milbert’s Tortoiseshell — Aglais milberti	April 10 – Oct 10	VAL
J	Monarch — Danaus plexippus		VAL
J	Mourning Cloak — Nymphalis antiopa	March 25 – Oct 15	VAL
J	Northern Crescent — Phyciodes cocyta	May 10 – Sept 15	VAL
J	Northern Pearly-eye — Lethe anthedon		VAL
J	Painted Lady — Vanessa cardui	May 1 – Oct 10	VAL
J	Pearl Crescent — Phyciodes tharos	May 1 – Sept 30	VAL
J	Question Mark — Polygonia interrogationis	April 10 – Oct 25	VAL
J	Red Admiral — Vanessa atalanta	April 10 – Oct 20	VAL
	Red-spotted Purple — Limenitis arthemis astyanax	June 10 – Aug 20	VAL
	Regal Fritillary — Speyeria idalia	July: VT	VAL
J	Silver-bordered Fritillary — Boloria myrina	May 20 – Aug 10	VAL
	Silvery Checkerspot — Chlosyne nycteis	June-July: VT	VAL
J	Tawny Emperor — Asterocampa clyton	June 20 – Aug 10	VAL
	Variegated Fritillary — Euptoieta claudia	July 1 – Oct 1 (migrant)	VAL
J	Viceroy (Eastern Viceroy)— Limenitis archippus	June 1 – Aug 15	VAL
J	White Admiral — Limenitis arthemis arthemis	June 15 – Aug 1	VAL
	Gossamer-winged Butterflies (Lycaenidae)
	Acadian Hairstreak — Satyrium acadica	June-Aug: VT	VAL
J	American Copper — Lycaena hypophlaeas		VAL
J	Banded Hairstreak — Satyrium calanus		VAL
	Bog Copper — Lycaena epixanthe	June-Aug: VT	VAL
J	Bronze Copper — Lycaena hyllus		VAL
	Brown Elfin — Callophrys augustinus	April-June: VT	VAL
	Cherry Gall Azure — Celastrina serotina	April-June: VT	VAL
	Common Blue — Polyommatus icarus	May-Oct: VT	VAL
	Coral Hairstreak — Satyrium titus	June-Aug: VT	VAL
	Early Hairstreak — Erora laeta	May-Aug: VT	VAL
J	Eastern Pine Elfin — Callophrys niphon		VAL
J	Eastern Tailed-Blue — Cupido comyntas		VAL
	Edwards' Hairstreak — Satyrium edwardsii	July: VT	VAL
	Frosted Elfin — Callophrys lanoraieensis	May: VT	VAL
	Gray Hairstreak — Strymon melinus	May-Oct: VT	VAL
J	Harvester — Feniseca tarquinius		VAL
	Henry's Elfin — Callophrys polia [Callophrys henrici]	Apr-May: VT	VAL
	Hickory Hairstreak — Satyrium caryaevorus	June-Aug: VT	VAL
	Juniper Hairstreak — Callophrys grynea	May-Aug	VAL
J	Northern Spring Azure — Celastrina lucia		VAL
J	Silvery Blue — Glaucopsyche lygdamus		VAL
J	Striped Hairstreak — Satyrium liparops		VAL
J	Summer Azure — Celastrina neglecta		VAL
	White-M Hairstreak — Parrhasius m-album	May, July-Sept: VT	VAL
	Skippers (Hesperiidae)
J	Arctic Skipper — Carterocephalus mandan		VAL
	Black Dash — Euphyes conspicua	July-Aug: VT	VAL
	Broad-winged Skipper — Poanes viator	July 1 – Aug 15	VAL
	Cobweb Skipper — Hesperia metea	June: VT	VAL
	Common Branded Skipper — Hesperia comma	Aug-Sept: VT	VAL
	Common Checkered-Skipper — Pyrgus communis	Aug-Oct: VT	VAL
	Common Roadside-Skipper — Amblyscirtes vialis	May-July: VT	VAL
	Common Sootywing — Pholisora catullus	May-Sept: VT	VAL
	Crossline Skipper — Polites origenes	June 20 – Aug 15	VAL
J	Delaware Skipper — Anatrytone logan		VAL
J	Dion Skipper — Euphyes dion		VAL
	Dreamy Duskywing — Erynnis icelus	May 1 – June 10	VAL
J	Dun Skipper — Euphyes vestris		VAL
	Dusted Skipper — Atrytonopsis hianna	May-June: VT	VAL
J	European Skipper — Thymelicus lineola	June 15 – July 25	VAL
	Fiery Skipper — Hylephila phyleus	Aug-Sept: VT	VAL
J	Hobomok Skipper — Poanes hobomok		VAL
	Horace’s Duskywing — Erynnis horatius	May 10 – July 1	VAL
	Indian Skipper — Hesperia sassacus	May-July: VT	VAL
	Juvenal’s Duskywing — Erynnis juvenalis	May 1 – June 15	VAL
J	Least Skipper — Ancyloxypha numitor	June 10 – Aug 25	VAL
	Leonard’s Skipper — Hesperia leonardus	July-Sept: VT	VAL
	Little Glassywing — Pompeius verna	May-Aug: VT	VAL
J	Long Dash Skipper — Polites mystic	June 20 – Aug 15	VAL
	Long-tailed Skipper — Urbanus proteus	Sept: VT	VAL
J	Mulberry Wing — Poanes massasoit	June 25 – July 25	VAL
J	Northern Broken-Dash — Polites egeremet	June 25 – Aug 10	VAL
	Northern Cloudywing — Thorybes pylades	May 20 – July 1	VAL
J	Peck’s Skipper — Polites peckius	May 20 – Sept 20	VAL
J	Pepper and Salt Skipper — Amblyscirtes hegon		VAL
	Persius Duskywing — Erynnis persius		VAL
J	[Eastern] Silver-spotted Skipper — Epargyreus clarus		VAL
	Sleepy Duskywing — Erynnis brizo	June: VT	VAL
	Southern Cloudywing — Thorybes bathyllus	June 1 – Aug 1	VAL
J	Tawny-edged Skipper — Polites themistocles	May 20 – Aug 10	VAL
	Two-spotted Skipper — Euphyes bimacula	June-July: VT	VAL
J	Wild Indigo Duskywing — Erynnis baptisiae	June 1 – Aug 10 (sandplain)	VAL
	Swallowtails (Papilionidae)
J	Black Swallowtail — Papilio polyxenes		VAL
J	Canadian Tiger Swallowtail — Papilio canadensis		VAL
J	Eastern Tiger Swallowtail — Papilio glaucus		VAL
J	[Eastern] Giant Swallowtail — Heraclides cresphontes		VAL
J	Mid Summer Swallowtail — Papilio solstitius		VAL
	Spicebush Swallowtail — Papilio troilus	June-Oct: VT	VAL
	Whites & Sulphurs (Pieridae)
J	Cabbage White — Pieris rapae		VAL
J	Clouded Sulphur — Colias philodice		VAL
	Cloudless Sulphur — Phoebis sennae	May-Aug: Vt	VAL
	Little Yellow — Pyrisitia lisa	June-Sept: Vt	VAL
	Mustard White — Pieris oleracea	June: VT	VAL
	Orange Sulphur — Colias eurytheme	May-Dec: VT	VAL
	Pink-edged Sulphur — Colias interior	May-Sept: VT	VAL
J	West Virginia White — Pieris virginiensis		VAL

3. Below is a comprehensive list of butterflies recorded in Vermont, as well as their primary and secondary host plants*. 

*Scientifically grounded but not citation-resolved line-by-line

Butterflies of Vermont
(Common name — Scientific name)	Primary Host plant(s)	Secondary Host plant(s)
Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)
American Lady — Vanessa virginiensis	P: Antennaria spp. (pussytoes)	S: Everlasting (Gnaphalium)
American Red Admiral — Vanessa atalanta rubria	P: Urtica dioica (stinging nettle)	S: Boehmeria cylindrica, Parietaria spp.
American Snout — Libytheana carinenta	P: Celtis spp.	S: none significant
Aphrodite Fritillary — Speyeria aphrodite	P: Viola spp.	S: none significant
Appalachian Eyed Brown — Lethe appalachia	P: Carex spp.	S: wet meadow grasses
Atlantis Fritillary — Speyeria atlantis	P: Viola spp.	S: none significant
Baltimore Checkerspot — Euphydryas phaeton	P: Chelone glabra (turtlehead)	S: Plantago spp. (later instars only)
California Tortoiseshell — Nymphalis californica	P: Ceanothus spp.	S: none relevant in Vermont
Common Buckeye — Junonia coenia	P: Plantago lanceolata (plantain), Mimulus spp.	S: Gerardia (Agalinis), Linaria, Verbena
Common Ringlet — Coenonympha california	P: Poaceae (fine grasses): Festuca, Poa	S: sedges (Carex spp.)
Common Wood-Nymph — Cercyonis pegala	P: Poaceae (tall grasses): Andropogon, Panicum	S: Carex spp.
Compton Tortoiseshell — Nymphalis l-album ssp. j-album	P: Salix spp., Betula spp.	S: Populus spp.
Eastern Comma — Polygonia comma	P: Humulus lupulus (hops)	S: Urtica dioica
Eyed Brown — Lethe eurydice	P: Carex spp. (sedges)	S: wetland grasses
Gray Comma — Polygonia progne	P: Ribes spp. (currants, gooseberries)	S: Betula spp., Ulmus spp.
Great Spangled Fritillary — Speyeria cybele	P: Viola spp. (violets)	S: none significant
Green Comma — Polygonia faunus	P: Ribes spp.	S: Salix spp., Betula spp.
Hackberry Emperor — Asterocampa celtis	P: Celtis occidentalis (hackberry)	S: Celtis tenuifolia
Harris’s Checkerspot — Chlosyne harrisii	P: Asteraceae: Aster (Symphyotrichum) spp.	S: Solidago spp. (goldenrods)
Jutta Arctic [Baltic Gray] — Oeneis jutta	P: Carex spp. (sedges)	S: cotton-grasses (Eriophorum spp.)
Little Wood Satyr — Megisto cymela	P: Poaceae (forest grasses): Dichanthelium, Poa	S: Carex spp. (sedges)
Meadow Fritillary — Boloria bellona	P: Viola spp.	S: none significant
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell — Aglais milberti	P: Urtica dioica (Nettles specialist)	S: none significant
Monarch — Danaus plexippus	P: Asclepias spp. (milkweeds): A. syriaca, A. incarnata, A. tuberosa	S: occasionally Cynanchum (dog-strangling vine; poor survival)
Mourning Cloak — Nymphalis antiopa	P: Salix spp., Populus spp.	S: Ulmus spp., Betula spp.
Northern Crescent — Phyciodes cocyta	P: Asteraceae (native asters)	S: similar to above
Northern Pearly-eye — Lethe anthedon	P: Poaceae (shade grasses): Leersia, Elymus	S: sedges
Painted Lady — Vanessa cardui	P: Asteraceae (thistles, especially Cirsium)	S: Malva, Borago
Pearl Crescent — Phyciodes tharos	P: Asteraceae: Symphyotrichum spp., Erigeron spp.	S: wide range within Aster family
Question Mark — Polygonia interrogationis	P: Ulmus spp. (elm)	S: Celtis occidentalis, Urtica
Red Admiral — Vanessa atalanta	P: Urtica dioica (stinging nettle)	S: Boehmeria cylindrica
Red-spotted Purple — Limenitis arthemis astyanax	P: Prunus serotina (black cherry)	S: other Prunus spp.
Regal Fritillary — Speyeria idalia	P: Viola spp. (violets)	S: none significant
Silver-bordered Fritillary — Boloria myrina	P: Viola spp.	S: none significant
Silvery Checkerspot — Chlosyne nycteis	P: Asteraceae: Helianthus, Rudbeckia, Verbesina	S: other composites
Tawny Emperor — Asterocampa clyton	P: Celtis occidentalis	S: same as above
Variegated Fritillary — Euptoieta claudia	P: Passiflora spp. (not native in VT)	S: Viola spp., Linum, Portulaca
Viceroy (Eastern Viceroy)— Limenitis archippus	P: Salix spp. (willow)	S: Populus spp.
White Admiral — Limenitis arthemis arthemis	P: Betula spp., Populus spp.	S: Salix spp.
Gossamer-winged Butterflies (Lycaenidae)
Acadian Hairstreak — Satyrium acadica	P: Salix spp. (willows)	S: Populus spp.
American Copper — Lycaena hypophlaeas	P: Rumex acetosella (sheep sorrel)	S: other Rumex spp.
Banded Hairstreak — Satyrium calanus	P: Quercus spp. (oak)	S: Juglans, Carya
Bog Copper — Lycaena epixanthe	P: Vaccinium oxycoccos (small cranberry)	S: Vaccinium macrocarpon
Bronze Copper — Lycaena hyllus	P: Rumex spp. (dock)	S: Polygonum spp.
Brown Elfin — Callophrys augustinus	P: Vaccinium spp. (blueberry, huckleberry)	S: Kalmia, Arctostaphylos (rare VT overlap)
Cherry Gall Azure — Celastrina serotina	P: Prunus serotina (black cherry; via galls/flower associations)	S: Prunus spp., possibly Crataegus
Common Blue — Polyommatus icarus	P: Trifolium spp. (clovers)	S: Lotus corniculatus, Medicago spp.
Coral Hairstreak — Satyrium titus	P: Prunus spp. (cherry, plum)	S: Crataegus (hawthorn)
Early Hairstreak — Erora laeta	P: Fagus grandifolia (American beech)	S: Quercus spp.
Eastern Pine Elfin — Callophrys niphon	P: Pinus strobus (white pine)	S: other Pinus spp.
Eastern Tailed-Blue — Cupido comyntas	P: Fabaceae: Trifolium spp., Vicia spp.	S: Medicago spp.
Edwards' Hairstreak — Satyrium edwardsii	P: Quercus spp. (especially scrub oak in sandplain systems)	S: chestnut sprouts historically
Frosted Elfin — Callophrys lanoraieensis	P: Lupinus perennis (wild lupine)	S: Baptisia tinctoria
Gray Hairstreak — Strymon melinus	P: Malvaceae, Fabaceae: Trifolium, Lespedeza, Helianthus	S: extremely broad generalist
Harvester — Feniseca tarquinius	P: aphids (e.g., Pemphigus spp., Prociphilus spp.) →only carnivorous butterfly in North America	S: associated host plants of aphids: Alnus spp. (alder), Fagus, Hamamelis
Henry's Elfin — Callophrys polia [Callophrys henrici]	P: Vaccinium spp., Arctostaphylos uva-ursi	S: various Ericaceae shrubs
Hickory Hairstreak — Satyrium caryaevorus	P: Carya spp. (hickory)	S: Juglans spp.
Juniper Hairstreak — Callophrys grynea	P: Juniperus virginiana (eastern red cedar)	S: other Cupressaceae (ornamental junipers)
Northern Spring Azure — Celastrina lucia	P: Cornus spp. (dogwood), Viburnum spp., Prunus spp.	S: Amelanchier spp., Rhamnus
Silvery Blue — Glaucopsyche lygdamus	P: Vicia spp., Lathyrus spp.	S: other legumes
Striped Hairstreak — Satyrium liparops	P: Prunus spp.	S: Crataegus, Amelanchier
Summer Azure — Celastrina neglecta	P: Viburnum spp., Cornus spp.	S: Aralia, dogwoods
White-M Hairstreak — Parrhasius m-album	P: Quercus spp. (oak)	S: Castanea dentata (historic), Chinquapin spp.
Skippers (Hesperiidae)
Arctic Skipper — Carterocephalus mandan	P: Poaceae (cool-season grasses): Calamagrostis, Poa	S: sedges occasionally
Black Dash — Euphyes conspicua	P: Carex spp. (sedges)	S: wetland grasses
Broad-winged Skipper — Poanes viator	P: Carex spp. (sedges)	S: wetland grasses
Cobweb Skipper — Hesperia metea	P: Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)	S: other bunchgrasses
Common Branded Skipper — Hesperia comma	P: Festuca spp. (fine grasses)	S: other Poaceae
Common Checkered-Skipper — Pyrgus communis	P: Malvaceae: Sida, Malva	S: Abutilon spp.
Common Roadside-Skipper — Amblyscirtes vialis	P: Poaceae: Poa, Panicum	S: woodland grasses
Common Sootywing — Pholisora catullus	P: Chenopodiaceae / Amaranthaceae: Chenopodium, Amaranthus	S: Atriplex
Crossline Skipper — Polites origenes	P: Poaceae: Andropogon, Panicum	S: other grasses
Delaware Skipper — Anatrytone logan	P: Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem)	S: other prairie grasses
Dion Skipper — Euphyes dion	P: Carex lacustris, Carex stricta	S: other large sedges
Dreamy Duskywing — Erynnis icelus	P: Salix spp. (willow)	S: Populus spp.
Dun Skipper — Euphyes vestris	P: Poaceae: Carex (frequent), Poa	S: mixed graminoids
Dusted Skipper — Atrytonopsis hianna	P: Schizachyrium scoparium	S: other dry-site grasses
European Skipper — Thymelicus lineola	P: pasture grasses: Phleum pratense, Poa	S: other introduced grasses
Fiery Skipper — Hylephila phyleus	P: lawn grasses: Cynodon, Paspalum	S: various Poaceae
Hobomok Skipper — Poanes hobomok	P: Poaceae: Poa pratensis, Bromus	S: woodland grasses
Horace’s Duskywing — Erynnis horatius	P: Quercus spp.	S: none significant
Indian Skipper — Hesperia sassacus	P: Danthonia spicata (poverty grass)	S: other dry grasses
Juvenal’s Duskywing — Erynnis juvenalis	P: Quercus spp. (oak)	S: none significant
Least Skipper — Ancyloxypha numitor	P: wetland grasses: Poa, Leersia	S: Carex spp.
Leonard’s Skipper — Hesperia leonardus	P: Schizachyrium scoparium	S: Andropogon spp.
Little Glassywing — Pompeius verna	P: Panicum spp.	S: other grasses
Long Dash Skipper — Polites mystic	P: Poaceae: Panicum, Leersia	S: sedges occasionally
Long-tailed Skipper — Urbanus proteus	P: Fabaceae: Phaseolus, Desmodium	S: other legumes
Mulberry Wing — Poanes massasoit	P: Carex spp.	S: none significant
Northern Broken-Dash — Polites egeremet	P: Panicum spp.	S: other grasses
Northern Cloudywing — Thorybes pylades	P: Fabaceae: Desmodium, Baptisia	S: other legumes
Peck’s Skipper — Polites peckius	P: Poaceae: Poa pratensis, Festuca	S: other turf grasses
Pepper and Salt Skipper — Amblyscirtes hegon	P: woodland grasses: Leersia, Panicum	S: Poaceae
Persius Duskywing — Erynnis persius	P: Fabaceae: Lupinus perennis, Baptisia tinctoria	S: other legumes
[Eastern] Silver-spotted Skipper — Epargyreus clarus	P: Fabaceae: Robinia pseudoacacia, Desmodium	S: Wisteria, other legumes
Sleepy Duskywing — Erynnis brizo	P: Quercus spp.	S: none significant
Southern Cloudywing — Thorybes bathyllus	P: Fabaceae (Desmodium, Clitoria)	S: various legumes
Tawny-edged Skipper — Polites themistocles	P: Poaceae: Poa, Agrostis	S: various grasses
Two-spotted Skipper — Euphyes bimacula	P: Carex spp. (wetland sedges)	S: none significant
Wild Indigo Duskywing — Erynnis baptisiae	P: Baptisia tinctoria	S: Lupinus perennis
Swallowtails (Papilionidae)
Black Swallowtail — Papilio polyxenes	P: Apiaceae: Zizia aurea (golden alexanders), Daucus carota (wild carrot), Angelica spp.	S: Parsley, dill, fennel (non-native but used)
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail — Papilio canadensis	P: Populus spp. (aspen, poplar), Betula spp. (birch).	S: Salix spp. (willow), Prunus spp.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail — Papilio glaucus	P: Prunus serotina (black cherry), Fraxinus spp. (ash).	S: Liriodendron tulipifera, Betula, Magnolia, Salix
[Eastern] Giant Swallowtail — Heraclides cresphontes	P: Prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum)	S: Hop tree (Ptelea trifoliata), Citrus (non-native in VT gardens)
Mid Summer Swallowtail — Papilio solstitius	P: Prunus spp., Fraxinus spp.	S: Betula, Salix
Spicebush Swallowtail — Papilio troilus	P: Lindera benzoin (spicebush)	S: Sassafras albidum
Whites & Sulphurs (Pieridae)
Cabbage White — Pieris rapae	P: Brassicaceae (wide range): wild mustard, cabbage, broccoli, garlic mustard (invasive host use)
Clouded Sulphur — Colias philodice	P: Trifolium spp. (clovers)	S: Medicago sativa (alfalfa), other Fabaceae
Cloudless Sulphur — Phoebis sennae	P: Senna spp. (not native in VT; host in migratory spillover contexts)
Little Yellow — Pyrisitia lisa	P: Senna spp.	S: Cassia spp.
Mustard White — Pieris oleracea	P: Cardamine diphylla, Cardamine pensylvanica	S: Arabis spp.
Orange Sulphur — Colias eurytheme	P: Medicago sativa (alfalfa)	S: Trifolium, Melilotus (sweet clover)
Pink-edged Sulphur — Colias interior	P: Vaccinium spp. (blueberries)	S: Gaylussacia (huckleberries)
West Virginia White — Pieris virginiensis	P: Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)	S: occasionally invasive garlic mustard (ecological trap risk)

4. Notes

CRITICAL ECOLOGICAL INSIGHTS

1. Graminoid System = Hidden Majority

A large portion of Vermont butterflies (especially skippers + satyrs) depend on:

Poaceae (grasses)

Carex (sedges)

These habitats are often:

undervalued

mowed too early

or misclassified as “low diversity”

→ In reality: essential butterfly infrastructure

2. Three Keystone Plant Systems in Vermont

A. Woody Plants

Quercus, Salix, Prunus, Populus

→ support the highest diversity overall

B. Herbaceous Specialists

Viola, Asclepias, Chelone

→ support conservation-priority butterflies

C. Graminoids

Poaceae + Carex

→ support the highest number of skipper species

3. Sandplain Specialists (Highest Conservation Priority)

Frosted Elfin → Lupinus perennis

Wild Indigo Duskywing → Baptisia tinctoria

Edwards’ Hairstreak → scrub oak

→ confined to SPF (Sandplain Forest)

→ among the most vulnerable systems in VT

4. Wetland Dependency Cluster

Strong reliance on:

Carex

Chelone

Salix

→ supports:

Baltimore Checkerspot

Eyed Brown

Broad-winged Skipper

5. Generalist vs Specialist Gradient

Specialists (high risk):

Baltimore Checkerspot

Frosted Elfin

mulberry wing skippers

Generalists (resilient):

Cabbage White

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Peck’s Skipper

KEY ECOLOGICAL PATTERNS

1. Woody plant dominance

~60–70% of Vermont butterflies depend on:

Quercus, Prunus, Salix, Populus, Betula

2. Herbaceous specialists

Critical conservation plants:

Viola → fritillaries

Asclepias → Monarch

Cardamine → Pieris whites

Lupinus → Frosted Elfin

3. Wetland dependency

Chelone, Salix, Carex → Baltimore Checkerspot + skippers

4. Generalist feeders dominate abundance

Fabaceae + Asteraceae = majority of common species

Most important host genera in Vermont:

Viola (violets) → fritillaries

Salix (willows) → many early species

Poaceae (grasses) → skippers + satyrs

Fabaceae (legumes) → sulphurs, blues

Urtica (nettles) → anglewings, admirals

Highest conservation leverage comes from planting:

Native violets

Willows

Native grasses

Milkweed

IMPORTANT STRUCTURAL TAKEAWAYS

1. Violet dependency cluster

A major guild:

All fritillaries → Viola spp.

Conservation implication: violets = high-leverage planting target

2. Wetland obligate system

Chelone glabra → Baltimore Checkerspot

Loss of turtlehead = local extirpation risk

3. Woody floodplain corridor system

Salix / Populus / Betula support:

Mourning Cloak

Viceroy

Compton Tortoiseshell

White Admiral

4. Nettle specialists (undervalued)

Red Admiral

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell

→ Urtica patches are ecologically valuable, not weeds

5. Hackberry expansion signal

Hackberry Emperor + Tawny Emperor

→ track Celtis spread in Champlain Valley

FINAL NOTES

Aphid-feeding exception:

Feniseca tarquinius → only carnivorous butterfly in North America

Strong sedge dependency cluster:

Euphyes, Oeneis, Lethe → wetlands = critical habitat

Sandplain specialists present:

Atrytonopsis hianna, Erynnis persius, Callophrys irus(earlier section)

Migratory layer included:

Urbanus proteus, Pyrisitia lisa, Hylephila phyleus

Key Observations (Champlain Valley)

Season length: ~March 25 → Oct 30

Peak diversity window: June 20 – Aug 1 (~80% of species active)