I observed 41 species of butterflies in the
Keys in July 2012. Especially
interesting finds were Pink-spot Sulphurs, Mimosa Yellows, Lyside Sulphurs,
Florida Whites, Silver-banded Hairstreaks, Ruddy Daggerwings, and Cuban
Crescents. Ruddy Daggerwings had been long
gone from the Keys until this year. They
are locally abundant on northern Key Largo.
Cuban Crescents and Mimosa Yellows also have not been found in the Keys
for many years, but Elane, Hank Poor, and Susan Kolterman found several colonies
on northern Key Largo. Just recently I
found a colony of Cuban Crescents on Plantation Key. Florida Whites have nearly disappeared from
Florida, but I have seen a few on Key Largo.
So far 2012 has been an especially rainy year in southern Florida which
seems to have favored some butterflies.
Butterflies Observed in the Florida Keys in
July 2012 by Marc C. Minno
Broad-winged
Skippers (Hesperiidae: Eudaminae)
Mangrove Skipper (Phocides pigmalion okeechobee)
Hammock Skipper (Polygonus leo savigny)
Dorantes Skipper (Urbanus dorantes)
Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)
Spreadwing
Skippers (Hesperiidae: Pyrginae)
Florida Duskywing (Ephyriades brunneus floridensis)
White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus albescens)
Grass
Skippers (Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae)
Monk Skipper (Asbolis
capucinus)
Three-spotted Skipper (Cymaenes tripunctus)
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila
phyleus)
Obscure Skipper (Panoquina panoquinoides)
Southern Broken-Dash (Wallengrenia otho)
 |
| Three-Spotted Skipper Caterpillar on Guineagrass, found on Key Largo |
Swallowtails
(Papilionidae: Papilioninae)
Polydamas Swallowtail (Battus polydamas lucayus)
Giant Swallowtail (Heraclides cresphontes)
 |
| Last stage caterpillar of the Polydamas Swallowtail on Aristolochia gigantea in Key West. |
Sulphurs
(Pieridae: Coliadinae)
Pink-spot Sulphur (Aphrissa neleis)
Barred Yellow (Eurema
daira daira)
Little Yellow (Eurema
lisa)
Mimosa Yellow (Eurema
nise)
Lyside Sulphur (Kricogonia lyside)
Large Orange Sulphur (Phoebis agarithe maxima)
Orange-barred Sulphur (Phoebis philea)
Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae eubule)
 |
| A female Mimosa Yellow visiting Scorpiontail on Key Largo. |
 |
| A male of the Mimosa Yellow on Key Largo. |
Whites
(Pieridae: Pierinae)
Great Southern White (Ascia monuste phileta)
Florida White (Glutophrissa drusilla neumoegenii)
 |
| The Florida White was once common in the Keys but is now an imperiled butterfly. I found this female on Key Largo. |
Hairstreaks
(Lycaenidae: Theclinae)
Silver-banded Hairstreak (Chlorostrymon simaethis)
Fulvous Hairstreak (Electrostrymon angelia)
Martial Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon martialis)
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
Blues
(Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae)
Eastern Pygmy Blue (Brephidium isophthalma pseudofea)
Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus
ceraunus antibubastus)
Cassius Blue (Leptotes
cassius theonus)
Milkweed
Butterflies (Nymphalidae: Danainae)
Soldier (Danaus eresimus tethys)
Queen (Danaus
gilippus berenice)
Monarch (Danaus
plexippus)
Passionflower
Butterflies (Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae)
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae nigrior)
Julia (Dryas
iulia largo)
Zebra Heliconian (Heliconius charithonia tuckerorum)
Admirals
(Nymphalidae: Limenitidiniinae)
Ruddy Dagger Wing (Marpesia petreus)
Brush-footed
Butterflies (Nymphalidae: Nymphalinae)
White Peacock (Anartia
jatrophae guantanamo)
Cuban Crescent (Anthanassa frisia)
Mangrove Buckeye (Junonia evarete)
Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon)
 |
| The Cuban Crescent has re-appeared in the Florida Keys. This colony was on Plantation Key. |
 |
| Here a a male Cuban Crescent on Plantation Key. |
Other interesting invertebrates seen:
 |
| This is the coolest beetle. It is one of the Primitive Weevils (Brentidae), Brentis anchorago. I found this one on Key Largo. |
 |
| Here is a nice example of the Florida Keys Tree Snail (Orthalicus reses nesodryas) from Key Largo. |
