Butterflies of Wyoming

Published in Barnyards & Backyards Magazine Summer 2018 Issue

Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii)

Known as Wyoming’s state butterfly with its distinctive bright green coloring, this butterfly can be found wherever the sulphur-flower is. This butterfly is one of the earliest to emerge in Wyoming and signifies the start of spring.

Two Tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata)

With yellow wings and thick black markings along its wings this butterfly can be found throughout the state of Wyoming. There are four black strips on each wing and specks of blue along the bottom edge of hind wing above the “tails”. These butterflies are the largest in the state and tend to fly in a leisurely manner making them noticeable.

Silvery Blue Butterfly, Image Taken by Katie Shockley in Laramie, WY.

Silvery Blue (Glaucopsche lgdamus)

The tops of these butterflies are distinct with a shiny light blue coloring bordered by dark grey. The bottom side is grey with a row of round, black white trimmed spots. Some ants will ‘adopt’ the larva of these butterflies and protect them from flies and wasps. These butterflies are quite small and are often noticed when the males “puddle”- visit puddles for salts and minerals.

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)

The male butterfly has black antennal knobs. The top of the wings are orange with black borders. Some can be seen with black lines crossing along the wings as well. The bottom side has dark patches with a light-colored crescent. Small batches of eggs are laid on the underside of the caterpillar host plant’s leaves.

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

The topside of these butterflies are an orange-brown color with a darker wing base. The front wing will have patches of white and the back wings will have a row of five small black dots and sometimes blue scales. The bottom of the wings are black, brown, and grey patterned. These butterflies can be found almost anywhere, especially in open or disturbed areas like gardens. Painted ladies migrate in large groups and sometimes they can be seen via weather radar images.

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

The “king” of butterflies are known for their mass migrations to two very small regions of California and Mexico to survive the winter. This journey is up to 3,000 miles. These butterflies have distinct orange, black, and white wings. The color that seems so beautiful to look at is actually a warning to predators that they are foul tasting and poisonous.

Alexandra’s Sulphur (Colias alexandra)

The male butterfly has bright yellow wings with pale yellow at the bases. The wings are edged with a narrow black border that is crossed by yellow veins. The females are yellow but can sometimes be white. The front wing border is fade or nonexistent. Both the female and male butterflies have a green-gray underside with a white cell spot. These butterflies can be found roaming fields, meadows, sagebrush flats, and road edges.

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

These butterflies are distinguished by their white wings and black tips. The female will have two black spots while the male only has one. The bottom of the wings are yellow-green or gray-green. They feed on the nectar of a wide variety of plants like mustards, asters, mints, and dandelion. They like open space including weedy areas, gardens, suburbs, cities, and roadsides. Not native to the U.S., the caterpillars of the cabbage white can cause damage to cole crops (broccoli, cauliflower, etc.).