Travis County Butterfly Checklist

Papilionidae / Pieridae / Lycaenidae / Riodinidae / Nymphalidae / Hesperiidae

Austin Butterfly Phenology

Texas Butterfly Checklists

Return to Texas Entomology - Compiled by Mike Quinn


This checklist is primarily modified from data in the following publication:
Durden, C.J. 1990. Guide to Butterflies of Austin. Texas Botanical Garden Society, Austin. 110 pp.
Species without occurrence data were listed on the Butterflies of Travis County, Texas - USGS website.

The calendar of adult flight times shows records for Travis County, collected by Chris Durden primarily between 1968 and 1990, plotted by 10-day interval. Dividing lines separating each set of 10-day periods are similar to the division of months. Some additional records have been added.
 
Key:

X - Specimen Record - At least one specimen collected within the designated 10-day period.
V - Sight Record - At least one individual sighted within the designated 10-day period.
P - Photographic Record - At least one individual photographed within the designated 10-day period.
= - No Sight, Specimen or Photographic Record within the designated 10-day period.

Butterflies of Travis Co. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Swallowtails   Family Papilionidae
Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor X== ==X XXX XXX XX= XX= XXX XX= X== XXX XX= ===X
Polydamas Swallowtail Battus polydamas === === === === === === =X= === === === === ====
Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes === =X= XXX XXX === XX= XXX === X=X XXX === ====
Thoas Swallowtail Papilio thoas === === ==X ==X X== === === === === === === ====
Giant Swallowtail Papilio cresphontes === ==V =XX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX === ====
Ornythion Swallowtail Papilio ornythion                        
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus === === =X= === X== === XXX XXX X=X =X= === ====
Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata  === === =VX XXX === =XX === === XXX X== === ====
Spicebush Swallowtail Papilio troilus === === === =XX === ==X XXX X=X =XX === === ====
Palamedes Swallowtail Papilio palamedes === === === === === === === === === X== === ====
Ruby-spotted Swallowtail  Papilio anchisiades                        

Butterflies of Travis County Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Whites and Sulphurs   Family Pieridae
     Whites   Subfamily Pierinae
Florida White Appias drusilla === === === === === === === === === =XX =X= ====
Checkered White Pontia protodice VVX XXX XX= XXX XXX XXX === === === =XX XXX ==X=
Cabbage White Pieris rapae === === === ==X === ==X XX= === === X== === ====
Great Southern White Ascia monuste === === === === === === === === === =V= === ====
Olympian Marble Euchloe olympia === === =X= === === === === === === === === ====
Falcate Orangetip Anthocharis midea  === === XXX XXX === === === === === === === ===X
     Sulphurs   Subfamily Coliadinae
Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice                        
Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme VXX XXX XXX XXX XX= X=X =X= X== X=X XXX XXX X=XX
Southern Dogface Zerene cesonia =X= =XX XXX XXX XXX X=X XXX X=X XXX XXX XXX XX=X
White Angled-Sulphur Anteos clorinde                        
Yellow Angled-Sulphur Anteos maerula === === === === === =X= === === === === === ====
Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae ==X =X= =VX X=X X=X =X= ==X XXX XXX XXX XXX ===X
Orange-barred Sulphur  Phoebis philea === === === V== === === === === === =X= === ====
Large Orange Sulphur Phoebis agarithe X== X== === === === === =XX =XX XXX XXX === ====
Statira Sulphur Phoebis statira === === === === === === =XX === === === === ====
Lyside Sulphur Kricogonia lyside === === === XXX =X= === =XX X== =X= =XX =XX X===
Barred Yellow Eurema daira === === === === === === === V== === === === ====
Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana === === =XV === X== X== === === === =XX XXX ====
Tailed Orange Pyrisitia proterpia === === === === === === === === ==X XX= =X= ==X=
Little Yellow Pyrisitia lisa === X== === ==X XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXXX
Mimosa Yellow Pyrisitia nise === === === =X= === =X= =X= === === =X= =X= X==X
Sleepy Orange Abaeis nicippe VXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX X=X XXX XXX XXX XXX XXXX
Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole VX= XXX X=X XXX XXX =X= XXX XXX ==X XXX XXX X=XX

Butterflies of Travis County Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Gossamer-wing Butterflies   Family Lycaenidae
     Harvesters Subfamily Miletinae
Harvester Feniseca tarquinius === === === === === === =V= VV= ==X === === ====
     Hairstreaks   Subfamily Theclinae
Great Purple Hairstreak Atlides halesus === === XXX X=X XXX === X== ==X =XX XXX XX= ====
Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus === ==X XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX === ==X=
Henry’s Elfin Callophrys henrici === ==X XXX X== === === === === === === === ====
Oak Hairstreak Satyrium favonius === === === ==X XXX === === === === === === ====
Banded Hairstreak Satyrium calanus === === === ==X =X= X== === === === === === ====
Silver-banded Hairstreak Chlorostrymon simaethis === === === === === === === === ==P P== === ====
Soapberry Hairstreak Phaeostrymon alcestis  === === === === =X= X== === === === === === ====
Dusky-blue Groundstreak  Calycopis isobeon === ==X XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX X===
Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus =X= =XX XX= XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX X===
Red-crescent Scrub-Hair. Strymon rufofusca === === === === === === === === === === === ====
Lacey’s Scrub-Hairstreak Strymon alea === === === === === === =X= X== X== XXX XXX X===
Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak Strymon istapa === === === === =X= === === === ==X X== =X= X===
Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak Strymon bazochii === === === === === === === === === ==P === ====
White M Hairstreak Parrhasius m-album === === === === =X= === XXX === ==X === === ====
     Blues   Tribe Polyommatini
Cassius Blue Leptotes cassius === === === === =X= === === === === === X== ====
Marine Blue Leptotes marina === === === === === === =X= === === XX= XX= X===
Cyna Blue Zizula cyna === === ==X X== === === === === === === XX= ====
Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exile === === === === === === === === === =XX XXX X===
Eastern Tailed-Blue Cupido comyntas === === ==X XXX XXX XX= XX= X== ==X XX= X== ====
‘Summer” Azure Celastrina neglecta === === === === X== === =X= X== === === === ====
Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus === === === === === === =X= XX= =X= XXX XXX X==X
Reakirt's Blue Echinargus isola === XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XX= XXX XXX XXX XX==

Butterflies of Travis County Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Metalmarks   Family Riodinidae
Fatal Metalmark Calephelis nemesis === ==X ==X XXX =X= X== XXX === XXX XXX XXX X===
Rounded Metalmark Calephelis perditalis === === === === === ==X XX= ==X X=X XXX XXX X===
Rawson's Metalmark Calephelis rawsoni === === === X=X =X= XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX X===
“Mexican” Metalmark  Apodemia mejicanus  === === === === === === === === === =V= === ====

Butterflies of Travis County Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Brush-footed Butterflies   Family Nymphalidae
     Snouts   Subfamily Libytheinae
American Snout Libytheana carinenta X== =XX XX= =XX XX= =X= =XX X== =XX XXX XXX XXXX
     Heliconians and Fritillaries   Subfamily Heliconiinae
Mexican Silverspot Dione moneta === === === === === === =X= === === === === ====
Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae === X=V XX= XXX XXX X=X XXX XX= X=X XXX XXX X==X
Julia Heliconian Dryas iulia === === === === === === XX= XXX =XX XXX XX= ====
Isabella's Heliconian Eueides isabella === === === === === === === === V== === === ====
Zebra Heliconian Heliconius charithonia  === === === === ==V === XX= X=X X=X XXX X== =X==
Erato Heliconian Heliconius erato                        
Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia =XX XXX X=X XXX XXX XXX XXX === ==X XXX XXX XXXX
Mexican Fritillary Euptoieta hegesia === === === === === === === === === =XX === ====
     True Brush-foots   Subfamily Nymphalinae
Theona Checkerspot Chlosyne theona === === XXX === =X= === =X= === === === === ====
Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia === === X== XXX XXX XX= XXX X=X XXX XXX XXX ====
Crimson Patch Chlosyne janais === === === === === === X== === === === === ====
Gorgone Checkerspot  Chlosyne gorgone === === === === ==X === =X= === ==X X== === ====
Silvery Checkerspot Chlosyne nycteis === === ==X XXX XX= XXX =XX X=X =XX XXX X=V ====
Elada Checkerspot Texola elada === === === =X= === === === === === =XX =X= ====
Vesta Crescent Phyciodes graphica === =XX XX= XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX =XX XXX XXX X==X
Phaon Crescent Phyciodes phaon === ==X XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX X===
Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos === X=X XXX XXX XX= XXX XXX XXX =XX XXX XXX X==X
Texan Crescent Anthanassa texana ==X X=X XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX =XX XXX XXX XX=X
Common Buckeye Junonia coenia === === === X=X XXX XXX XXX XX= ==X XXX XXX X=X=
  form nigrosuffusa === === === === === X== =X= === === XXX XX= ====
Tropical Buckeye Junonia genoveva === === === === X== === XX= === === XXX XX= ====
White Peacock Anartia jatrophae === === === === === === === === ==X === === ====
Eastern Comma Polygonia comma === === === === === === === === ==X === === ====
Question Mark P. interrogationis === =XX XX= ==X XXX XX= XX= X=X V=X XXX XX= X==X
Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa === === =V= ==V X== === === === === === === ====
Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta ==X =XX XXX X=X XXV === =X= X== ==X XXX XXX X=XX
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui === === =V= XXX === === =X= X== X=X XXX XXX X===
American Lady Vanessa virginiensis V== ==V XXX XXX XX= X== X== =X= ==X XXX XXX XX=X

Butterflies of Travis County Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
     Admirals and Relatives   Subfamily Limenitidinae
Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis === === === =XX === =XX XXX === === XV= === ====
Viceroy Limenitis archippus === === === XX= === X=X XXX XX= XXX XXX === ====
California Sister Adelpha bredowii === === ==V === X== ==X XX= V== X== XX= =V= ====
Ruddy Daggerwing Marpesia petreus === === === === === === =X= === === === === ====
Many-banded Daggerwing  Marpesia chiron === === === === === === === === === X== === ====
           Subfamily Biblidinae
Red Rim Biblis hyperia === === === === === === === === === === === X===
Common Mestra Mestra amymone === === === === === =X= === XXX XXX XXX XXX X===
Dingy Purplewing Eunica monima                        
Florida Purplewing Eunica tatila                        
Blue-eyed Sailor Dynamine dyonis === === === === === === === XXX === =XX X== ====
     Leafwings   Subfamily Charaxinae
Tropical Leafwing Anaea aidea === =XX XX= === ==X === =X= X== === X=X XXX ==X=
Goatweed Leafwing Anaea andria =V= =XX XXX XXX XXX =XX XXX X== X=X XXX XXX X==X
     Emperors   Subfamily Apaturinae
Hackberry Emperor Asterocampa celtis === === === ==X XX= === XXX XXX =XX XXX X== ====
Empress Leilia Asterocampa leilia === === === ==X XX= ==X === === ==X XX= === ====
Tawny Emperor Asterocampa clyton === === === ==X X== === XX= XX= ==X XXX XX= ====
     Satyrs   Subfamily Satyrinae
Gemmed Satyr Cyllopsis gemma === === === === === === === === === === === ====
Carolina Satyr Hermeuptychia sosybius  === === =XX XXX XXX X=X XXX === =XX XXX XXX ====
Red Satyr Megisto rubricata === === === XXX XXX XX= ==X XXX X=X XX= === ====
Little Wood-Satyr Megisto cymela === === ==X XXX XXX X== === === === === === ====
Common Wood-Nymph Cercyonis pegala === === === === =XX XXX =X= X=X X=X XXX X== ====
     Monarchs   Subfamily Danainae
Monarch Danaus plexippus === === =VX XXX XXX ==X ==X X== XXX XXX XXX ==VX
Queen Danaus gilippus === === =VX XXX XXX X=X XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX X==X
Soldier Danaus eresimus === === === === === === === === X== XXX XX= ====

Butterflies of Travis County

 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Skippers   Family Hesperiidae
     Spread-wing Skippers   Subfamily Pyrginae
Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus === === =XV XXX =X= X=X XXX ==X XXX XX= === ====
White-striped Longtail Chioides albofasciatus  === === === === === === =V= === === =X= === ====
Zilpa Longtail Chioides zilpa === === === === === === === === === X== === ====
Long-tailed Skipper Urbanus proteus === === === === === === =V= === === === === ====
Dorantes Longtail Urbanus dorantes === === === === === === === ==X === X== ==X ====
Two-barred Flasher Astraptes fulgerator === === === === X== === === X== === === === ====
Coyote Cloudywing Achalarus toxeus === === === === === === === === ==X === === ====
Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades === === =XV X=X X=X === XXX XX= XXX X== === ====
Confused Cloudywing Thorybes confusis === === === === === === === ==X X== X== === ====
Outis Skipper Cogia outis === === === === === ==X ==X === === === === ====
Mazans Scallopwing Staphylus mazans                        
Hayhurst’s Scallopwing Staphylus hayhurstii === === ==V XXX XX= === XX= === === === === ====
Texas Powdered Skipper Systasea pulverulenta ==X === XXX XXX XX= X=X XXX X== XXX XXX XX= ====
Sickle-winged Skipper Eantis tamenund === === === === === === X== =XX XX= X=X X== ====
Hermit Skipper Grais stigmaticus                        
False Duskywing Gesta invisus === === === === === === =X= === === === === ====
Sleepy Duskywing Erynnis brizo                        
Juvenal’s Duskywing Erynnis juvenalis === === =XX X== === === ==X X== === X== === ====
Meridian Duskywing Erynnis meridianus === === =XX X== === === =X= === === X== === ====
Horace’s Duskywing Erynnis horatius === ==X XXX XXX XXX XX= XXX XXX XXX XX= =X= ===X
Zarucco Duskywing Erynnis zarucco === === === === =X= === === === ==X === === ====
Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis === ==X XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX X== XXX =XX XXX ====
Wild Indigo Duskywing Erynnis baptisiae === === === === === X=X === === === === === ====
Common Checkered-Skipper  Pyrgus communis VXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX X=X XXX XXX XXXX
White Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus albescens === =X= ==X ==X =XX X=X XXX ==X X== XXX XXX X===
Desert Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus philetas === X== === X=X X== X=X XX= X=X =XX XXX XXX X===
Tropical Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus oileus === === === === === === === === ==X === === ====
Laviana White-Skipper Heliopetes laviana === === === === === === === === === =XX =X= ====
Turk's-Cap White-Skipper Heliopetes macaira
 === === === === === ==P =P= === === === === ====
Common Streaky-Skipper Celotes nessus === === =XX XXX XXX XXX XXX =X= XX= X== === ====
Common Sootywing Pholisora catullus === === =XX XX= X== X=X =X= X== X=X === === ====

Butterflies of Travis County

 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
     Grass Skippers   Subfamily Hesperiinae
Swarthy Skipper Nastra lherminier                        
Julia's Skipper Nastra julia === === === XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX X===
Neamathla Skipper Nastra neamathla === === === === === === === X== === === X== ====
Clouded Skipper Lerema accius ==X =XX XXX XXX XXX X== XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX X===
Least Skipper Ancyloxypha numitor === === === === === X== ==X ==X X=X === X== ====
Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiaca  === === X=X XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX X===
Southern Skipperling Copaeodes minimus === === === XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX X===
Fiery Skipper Hylephila phyleus === ==X === XXX =XX XX= XXX X=X XXX XXX XXX X==X
Apache Skipper Hesperia woodgatei === === === === === === === === === =XX === ====
Green Skipper Hesperia viridis === === === ==X XX= X== === === XXX XXX === ====
Dotted Skipper Hesperia attalus === === === === === === === === === ==X === ====
Sachem Atalopedes campestris === X=X =XX XXX XXX X=X XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX X==X
Whirlabout Polites vibex === === === =XX XX= X== =XX X== === XX= === ====
Southern Broken-Dash Wallengrenia otho === === === =XX XX= X== =XX X== === XX= === ====
Arogos Skipper Atrytone arogos === === === =X= X== === =XX === === === === ====
Delaware Skipper Anatrytone logan === === === =XX XX= === XXX === ==X X== === ====
Glowing Skipper Anatrytone mazai === === === === === === =X= === === === === ====
Zabulon Skipper Poanes zabulon === === === === === === === === === === === ====
Dun Skipper Euphyes vestris === === === XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XX= ====
Bronze Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes aenus === === === X== === === ==X === ==X === === ====
Nysa Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes nysa === === === X== X== === === === =XX X== === ====
Dotted Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes eos === === === === === === =X= ==X XXX X== === ====
Common Roadside-Skipper  Amblyscirtes vialis === === === === === === === === === === === ====
Celia’s Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes celia === === ==X XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XX= === ====
Eufala Skipper Lerodea eufala === ==X X== X=X =X= XX= XXX XX= XXX XXX XXX X===
Violet-clouded Skipper Lerodea arabus === === === === === === === === === === =X= ====
Brazilian Skipper Calpodes ethlius === === === === === === === X== === X== X=V ====
Ocola Skipper Panoquina ocola === === === === === === === X=X =XX XXX XXX X===
Purple-washed Skipper Panoquina lucas === === === === === === === === === === =XX ====
Hecebolus Skipper Panoquina hecebolus === === === === === === =X= === === X== X== ====
Yucca Giant-Skipper Megathymus yuccae === === === XXX === === === === === === === ====

Butterflies of Travis County

 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Phenological data from:

Guide to Butterflies of Austin
Chris J. Durden. 1990.
Texas Botanical Garden Society, Austin. 110 pp.

The contents of this checklist may be duplicated for free distribution but may not be copied for sale without the permission of Chris J. Durden.

Voucher specimens are deposited in the collection of the University of Texas Insect Collection (UTIC).

Information on the above species can be found Durden’s publication or online at the USGS’ Butterflies of Travis County, Texas website.

Species without occurrence data were listed on the Butterflies of Travis County, Texas - USGS website.

Taxonomically this checklist is arranged according to:

Opler, P.A. & A.D. Warren. 2003. Scientific Names List for Butterfly Species of North America, North of Mexico. Contributions of the Gillette Museum of Arthropod Biodiversity. 79 pp.  

English names follow:

Cassie, B. et. al. 2001. NABA Checklist & English Names of North American Butterflies. Second Edition. 59 pp. 

Original taxonomic treatment:

Durden, C.J. 2011. Checklist of Texas Butterflies. Texas Natural History Collections. UT, Austin.

Distribution of Travis County Butterflies
(Durden, 1990)

39% are found in Mexico City and the Valle de Mexico
38% range into South America
27% are found in Washington and the District of Columbia
2% range into Asia, Europe and north Africa

41% are at or near the northern boundary of their range
39% are in midrange
18% are near the eastern boundary of their range
17% are at the southern or southwestern boundary of their range
7% are at the western boundary of their range 

53% are species of woodlands
26 % are species of desert and grasslands
12 % are species of brushland
9% are species of arid woodland and thorn scrub

19 July 2016  © Mike Quinn / entomike@gmail.com / Texas Entomology