Table Of ContentButterflies & Moths
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Nature In Your Pocket™ T
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Butterflies & Moths highlights 90 of the most common and sought- R
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after butterfly and moth species in North America. Anatomically L
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correct illustrations and detailed descriptions about each species’ ES
prominent physical attributes and natural habitat make it easy to &
identify butterflies and moths in your backyard, favorite parks, and M
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wildlife areas. Informative and beautiful to peruse, this is the
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essential resource when you’re out in the field. H
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TODD TELANDER is a natural science illustrator, wildlife artist, and
the author and illustrator of many FalconGuides, as well as the
Scats and Tracks series. He lives in Walla Walla, Washington, with
his wife, Kirsten, and two sons, Miles and Oliver.
Cover illustrations © Todd Telander
falcon.com
FalconGuides® is an imprint of
Globe Pequot Press
TTOODDDD TTEELLAANNDDEERR
Butterflies & Moths
Todd Telander
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To my wife, Kirsten; my children, Miles and Oliver; and my parents,
all of whom have supported and encouraged me through the years.
FALCONGGUUIIDDEESS®
Copyright © 2013 Morris Book Publishing, LLC
Illustrations copyright © 2013 Todd Telander
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or trans-
mitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval
system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher.
Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn:
Rights and Permissions Department, PO Box 480, Guilford CT 06437.
FalconGuides is an imprint of Globe Pequot Press.
Falcon, FalconGuides, and Outfit Your Mind are registered trademarks of
Morris Book Publishing, LLC.
Illustrations by Todd Telander
Text design: Sheryl P. Kober
Project editor: Lauren Brancato
Layout: Mary Ballachino
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.
ISBN 978-0-7627-7933-8
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Contents
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Notes on the Species Accounts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Parts of a Butterfly/Moth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Butterflies
Swallowtails and Parnassians (Family Papilionidae) . . . . . .2
Sulfurs and Whites (Family Pieridae) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Gossamer-wings: Blues, Coppers, and Hairstreaks
(Family Lycaenidae). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Metalmarks (Family Riodinidae). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
True Brushfoots, Snouts, Milkweed Butterflies, Fritillaries,
Satyrs, Wood-Nymphs, and Other Common
Brush-footed Butterflies (Family Nymphalidae) . . . . . . 25
Skippers (Family Hesperiidae) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Moths
Giant Silk Moths (Family Saturniidae) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Sphinx and Hawk Moths (Family Sphingidae) . . . . . . . . . 61
Prominents (Family Notodontidae). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Forester, Dagger, and Cutworm Moths (Family Noctuidae) 67
Tiger Moths and Allies (Family Erebidae) . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Slug Caterpillar Moths (Family Limacodidae) . . . . . . . . . 83
Looper or Geometer Moths (Family Geometridae). . . . . . 85
Tent Caterpillar Moths (Family Lasiocampidae) . . . . . . . . 87
Bagworm Moths (Family Psychidae) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Carpenter Moths (Family Cossidae) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Skeletonizer Moths (Family Zygaenidae) . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Snout Moths (Family Pyralidae) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Plume Moths (Family Pterophoridae) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
About the Author/Illustrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
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Introduction
Butterflies and moths (which together form the group called
Lepidoptera, or “scaled wings”) are among the most fascinating
of insects. Their flight is lovely to watch, their intricate colors and
patterns fascinate, and their fragile appearance surprises, given
the strength and stamina that allows some species to migrate
thousands of miles. Possibly most intriguing is their ability to
transform themselves from wormlike caterpillars into delicate,
multicolored flying insects.
To aid in the identification process of these unique creatures,
it is helpful to first recognize the basic differences between
butterflies and moths. Butterflies are generally diurnal (active
during the day), are brightly colored, hold their wings closed
when at rest, and have thin, club-tipped antennae. Moths are
generally nocturnal (active during the night), show pale or dull
colors, hold their wings open or folded across the back, and have
feathered antennae. The exceptions to these distinctions are too
numerous to list, but in most cases these features will guide you
to the proper group.
This book is designed to help you identify their magnificent
members. Since North America alone is home to upwards of
12,000 species, this book can only serve as an introduction to
those you’ll be most likely to see—ninety of the more common
and interesting Lepidoptera in North America. I hope you enjoy
your discovery of these gentle creatures as much as I have enjoyed
writing about and painting them.
iv
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Notes on the Species Accounts
Names
The common name as well as the scientific name is given at the
beginning of each entry. Of the two, the universally accepted sci-
entific name of genus and species is the more reliable identifier,
because common names tend to vary regionally, and sometimes
there may be more than one, as may be noted in the Description
section (see p. vii). For those familiar with Latin, scientific names
can also provide valuable clues about the species in question. The
Dogbane Tiger Moth’s scientific name, Cycnia tenera, is a good
example. Cycnia signifies a kind of swan, and tenera means soft
or delicate. The translation suggests a moth with soft, swanlike
coloring, which in fact is the case.
Families
Butterflies and moths are grouped into families based on similar
structures, behaviors, and common ancestry. In the Family sec-
tion you’ll find both the scientific name and the common one
for each butterfly or moth’s family group. Sometimes a subgroup
for the butterfly/moth in question is given too, so you’ll know a
bit more about exactly where it fits within that larger category.
After you are familiar with the more common families and their
shared characteristics, you can often place an unfamiliar butterfly
or moth into a family, which will reduce your search to a smaller
group. For example, if you find a large moth with a large body,
short and pointed wings, and a complex wing pattern, you might
first look in the family Sphingidae (which includes the sphinx and
hawk moths) and narrow your search from there.
Size
Sizes given refer to the wingspan, from forewing tip to forewing
tip with the wings outstretched. Of course, when the wings are
closed, pulled down, or folded across the back, the wingspan will
appear smaller. Use this measurement as a general guide to give a
v
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sense of the relative size of your subject, noting that there can be
quite a bit of variability between different individuals of the same
species, and in many cases, between the male and female.
Habitat
Habitat is the general description of the land, climate, and vegeta-
tive features within a butterfly or moth’s range. Since many species
depend on very specific host plants during the larval stage, their
habitat will be strongly linked to where those plants are found.
During the adult stage, however, many individuals may disperse
or migrate over a wide range of habitats, far away from where the
host plant is found. Other species are quite general in their food
choices, and can be found almost anywhere within their range.
Range
Range is the geographic area where a species exists. It can be very
broad, such as the worldwide area inhabited by the Indian-Meal
Moth, or quite limited, like the comparatively much smaller area
of California, home to the California Sister. Range is a helpful diag-
nostic tool, because you can quickly note the species that you
are likely to encounter in your area. But also be aware that there
are cases when individuals carried by winds, or in migration, are
found far from their normal range.
Food
In the Food listings you’ll find favored host plants that caterpil-
lars depend upon for survival. Some species use only one kind of
plant, while others may feed on multiple plants as well as trees,
grains, or wood. As adults, most butterflies feed on nectar from
flowering plants that may or may not be related to their host
plant. Rotting fruit, moisture and salts from puddles, and even
carrion and dung serve as additional sources of nourishment.
Many species of moths lack functioning mouthparts as adults, live
only for a period of days, and do not feed at all.
vi
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Description
The descriptions give plain-language lists of the general features
and lifestyles of adults and larvae, though if scientific terms are
needed for better accuracy they’ll be included. (A diagram of sci-
entifically labeled butterfly/moth parts is provided in the next
section.) Within each description you’ll find attributes such as
wing shape and color of both forewings and hindwings, body
shape and color, style of antennae, hairiness, flight behavior, and
feeding habits. (Note that mounted specimens may lose much
of their color and sometimes their patterning and are often por-
trayed in very unnatural positions.) For the larvae, the descrip-
tions refer to the mature caterpillar, understanding that younger
stages (“instars”) of the caterpillar may differ slightly. Attributes
include shape, color, presence of protuberances, spines, hairs, and
behavior.
Illustrations
The illustrations show the upper side of an average specimen of
each species. Use them as a visual guide to overall shape, color,
and patterning, bearing in mind that there may be consider-
able variation in appearance between individuals, particularly
between males and females, or for species that have distinct
forms in different ranges. Most species are shown with wings
outstretched. Although butterflies in nature commonly hold their
wings closed, and some moths fold their wings tightly across
the back, this presentation communicates the most descriptive
information. The underside of the wings is not illustrated, but is
described in the text.
vii
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Parts of a Butterfly/Moth
costal/leading edge
antennae
discal cell
apex/apical area head
medial area
palp
thorax
wing margin post medial area
forewing
submarginal stripe
hindwing
wing base
tail
abdomen
anal area
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