This checklist grew out of desire to inform the public to what species of residential plants would prove to be the best attractants for butterflies in and about the northern Chihuahuan Desert sister cities of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. From the beginning I concentrated on the host plants for butterfly larvae, not nectar plants to attract adults. My expectation was that the information on the former would be harder for the public to access; general information on the latter (for native as well as non-native species) seems readily available through the local nursery trade. In fact, however, nectar plants may be quite specific; the user is referred to the butterfly references at the end of this checklist for detailed information on nectar plants of individual species. Would-be butterfly gardeners are warned that a both nectar and host plant attractants are usually necessary in constructing a successful garden assemblage.
Utilizing published sources (see references at end of checklist) internet resources (especially Opler et al. 1995), and the systematic collections of the University of Texas at EL Paso's Centennial Museum (Laboratory for Environmental Biology), I have assembled the distributional information on every species that had been found and identified at least once from a six county area centered on El Paso (Luna, Doña Ana, Otero Counties, New Mexico; El Paso and Hudspeth Counties, Texas; Municipio de Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua). Data on other Chihuahuan Desert species that occurred peripherally to this six county area in southern New Mexico, western Texas, and northern Mexico were gathered as well. Eventually this information on regional butterflies will be edited into species accounts available through the (Chihuahuan Desert Website)
For the present, however, what is offered here is a simple checklist that distills down (some would say destroys) much of the information into the simplest of formats. The list is broken down by butterfly family; within each family the genera and species are alphabetically listed by scientific name. Most butterfly books list the species in putative phylogenetic order; the users of this checklist will probably not be interested in such nuances, only in successfully locating a species on the list. I am by no means a butterfly taxonomist and thus do not know enough about lepidoptera systematics to have an informed opinion on any nomenclatural combination or phylogenetic hypothesis. Accordingly, the nomenclature for species names and common (English) names follows Opler and Wright (1999) because this field guide is current, readily available, and parallels the excellent Opler et al. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center website [editor's note: the site has changed to (http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org), Butterflies and Moths of North America].
The checklist includes only species that thought to either frequent, been reported from at least once, or are ecologically suited to desert, desert-riparian, desert-grassland, and/or desert-mountain range habitats. The occurrence of each species is characterized in one of four ways:
PR: Probable Resident--Available evidence suggests that resident populations occur, or at one time occurred, in Chihuahuan Desert habitats in some or all of the six-county area. I have identified 80 regional desert species of butterflies in this category.
HPS : High Probability Stray--Available evidence indicates that this species reliably occurs in the six county area as stray individuals, migrants, or temporary colonizers (e.g., ephemeral populations that persist for one or a few seasons before extirpation). Thirty-five species have been identified in this category in the checklist. There are an additional three species whose resident/colonist distribution lies across the El Paso region (from maps of Opler and Wright, 1999).
LPS : Low Probability Strays--Records exist for the six county area, but the occurrence has either been a rare event (sometimes recorded only once) or is unexpected due to habitat/climatic constraints on the species biology.
MP : Montane Peripheral--The montane woodlands of southern New Mexico contain many species of butterflies that occur peripherally to Chihuahuan Desert habitats. Individuals of these occasionally disperse into lower elevations, especially at the foothill juniper and oak belt interfaces with desert communities. If such have been recorded from the six-county area, they are included in this category. Nevertheless, and attempt was made to exclude obligatory, high-elevation/forest species that occur in the Cookes Range (Luna Co.), Organ Mts. (Doña Ana Co.), and Sacramento Mts. (Otero Co.). These taxa seldom, if ever, descend into foothill areas. The regional butterfly locality data compiled by Toliver et al. (1994) were especially useful in making these judgments.
The Presumed Resident and High Probability Stray species have been put together in the checklist as "Group I" species; these 118 taxa represent the "participant" butterfly biodiversity that most observers can be expected to encounter in the area. The LPS and MP species are collected into "Group II" taxa; this second assemblage of species are included for the sake of having a complete checklist but are unlikely to be encountered with any frequency.
For all Presumed Resident species, and for the High Probability Stray forms that have a tendency to form temporary or summer colonies, representative host plants are indicated by number. The numbers refer to an alphabetical index of these plants by scientific name that follows the checklist. The plant species indicated in the checklist are in many cases only a partial list of potential host plants; I have emphasized the plants that occur locally in the six county area as northern Chihuahuan Desert native, naturalized, ornamental, or domesticated genera and species (Correl and Johnston, 1970; Lieb et al., 1996; Worthington 1987, 1989, 1998).
Group I: Participant species in El Paso/Cd. Juarez area butterfly biodiversity. PR = Presumed resident; HPS = High probability stray/temporary colonizer |
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Papilionidae - Swallowtails |
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Species | Common Name | Status | Representative Host Plants |
Battus philenor | Pipevine Swallowtail | HPS | 15.1,15.2 |
Papilio cresphontes | Giant Swallowtail | HPS | 95.0,100.1,105.1 |
Papilio multicaudatus | Two-tailed Swallowtail | PR | 53.0,53.1,99.0,100.1 |
Papilio polyxenes | Black Swallowtail | PR | 39.1,39.2,88.1,105.1,124.1 |
Pieridae - Whites, Sulphurs |
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Species |
Common Name |
Status |
Representative Host Plants |
Anthocharis cethura | Desert Orangetip | PR | 40.0,121.0,125.0 |
Anthocharis thoosa | Southwestern Orangetip | PR | 40.8 |
Colias eurytheme | Orange Sulphur | PR | 19.0,77.1,78.0,78.1,89.0,110.0, 128.1 |
Colias philodice | Clouded Sulphur | PR | 19.0,71.0,77.0,77.1,128.1 |
Euchloe lotta | Desert Marble | PR | 13.0,40.0,67.0,121.0,125.0 |
Eurema boisduvaliana | Boisduval's Yellow | HPS | 110.0 |
Eurema lisa | Little Yellow | HPS | 31.1,41.0,110.0,110.1 |
Eurema mexicana | Mexican Yellow | HPS | not colonizing |
Eurema nicippe | Sleepy Orange | HPS | 110.0,110.2 |
Eurema proterpia | Tailed Orange | HPS | 42.0,98.0,110.0 |
Kricogonia lyside | Lyside | HPS | 56.1 |
Nathalis iole | Dainty Sulphur | PR | 22.0,22.1,45.1,57.0,84.0,122.0,126.6 |
Phoebis agarithe | Large Orange Sulphur | HPS | 92.0,110.0 |
Phoebis sennae | Cloudless Sulphur | HPS | 110.0 |
Pontia protodice | Checkered White | PR | 13.0,24.0,27.0,40.0,67.0,125.0 |
Pieris rapae | Cabbage White | PR | 13.0,40.0 |
Pontia sisymbrii | Spring White | PR | 13.0,40.0,115.0,121.0 |
Zerene cesonia | Southern Dogface | HPS | 9.0,38.0,38.1,77.0,77.1 |
Lycaenidae - Coppers, Hairstreaks, Blues |
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Species | Common Name | Status | Representative Host Plants |
Atlides halesus | Great Purple Hairstreak | PR | 90.0 |
Brephidium exile | Western Pigmy Blue | HPS | 20.0,32.1,106.0 |
Callophrys gryneus | Juniper Hairstreak | PR | 64.0,64.1 |
Callophrys henrici | Henry's Elfin | PR | 44.1,99.0,116.0,130.1,134.0 |
Callophrys mcfarlandi | Sandia Hairstreak | PR | 83.0 |
Callophrys spinetorum | Thicket Hairstreak | PR | 14.0 |
Celastrina ladon | Spring Azure | PR | undetermined |
Euphilotes rita | Rita Dotted Blue | PR | 49.0,49.1 |
Fixsenia polingi | Rounded Oak Hairstreak | PR | 101.2,101.4 |
Hemiargus ceraunus | Ceraunus Blue | HPS | not colonizing? |
Hemiargus isola | Reakirt's Blue | PR | 2.1,2.2,19.0,38.0,38.1,41.0, 62.0,62.1,77.0, 78.2,79.0,98.0,98.1 |
Icaricia lupini | Lupine Blue | PR | 19.2 |
Leptotes marina | Marine Blue | HPS | 2.0,9.0,19.0,38.0,70.0,77.1, 89.0,94.0,98.0 |
Lycaeides melissa | Melissa Blue | PR | 19.0,70.0,71.0,77.0,134.0 |
Ministrymon leda | Leda Hairstreak | PR | 98.0,98.1 |
Strymon melinus | Gray Hairstreak | PR | 44.1,54.0,56.1,66.1,73.0,89.0, 123.1 |
Zizula cyna | Cyna Blue | HPS | unknown |
Riodinidae - Metalmarks |
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Species | Common Name | Status | Representative Host Plants |
Apodemia duryi | Mexican Metalmark | PR | 65.0 |
Apodemia mejicanus | Sonoran Metalmark | PR | 49.0,49.1,65.1 |
Apodemia palmeri | Palmer's Metalmark | PR | 98.1,98.2 |
Calephelis nemesis | Fatal Metalmark | PR | 21.1,34.1,48.0 |
Libytheidae - Snout Butterflies |
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Species | Common Name | Status | Representative Host Plants |
Libytheana carinenta | American Snout | PR/HPS | 29.1,29.2 |
Nymphalidae - Brushfoots |
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Species | Common Name | Status | Representative Host Plants* |
Adelpha bredowii | California Sister | PR | 101.3,101.5 |
Agraulis vanillae | Gulf Fritillary | HPS | not colonizing? |
Anaea andria | Goatweed Butterfly | HPS | not colonizing? |
Anaea troglodyta | Tropical Leafwing | HPS | not colonizing? |
Asterocampa celtis | Hackberry Butterfly | PR | 29.2 |
Asterocampa clyton | Tawny Emperor | PR | 29.2 |
Asterocampa leilia | Empress Leilia | PR | 29.1 |
Chlosyne acastus | Sagebrush Checkerspot | PR | 72.0 |
Chlosyne definita | Definite Patch | PR | 119.0,119.1 |
Chlosyne lacinia | Bordered Patch | HPS | 58.1,132.1,135.1, 136.1,137.0 |
Dymasia dymas | Tiny Checkerspot | PR | 114.0,114.1 |
Euptoieta claudia | Variegated Fritillary | PR/HPS | 87.0,97.0,109.0 |
Gyrocheilus patrobas | Red-bordered Satyr | PR | 82.0 |
Junonia coenia | Common Buckeye | HPS | 3.0,11.0,28.0,69.0,76.1,80.0,93.0, 104.0,104.1 |
Junonia genoveva | Tropical Buckeye | HPS | not colonizing? |
Limenitis archippus | Viceroy | PR | 96.0,107.0 |
Limenitis arthemis | Red-spotted Purple | PR | 36.0,96.0,99.0,101.0,107.0 |
Limenitis weidemeyerii | Wiedemeyer's Admiral | PR | 61.0,96.0,107.0 |
Mestra amymone | Common Mestra | HPS | 127.1 |
Nyphalis antiopa | Mourning Cloak | PR | 29.0,81.0,96.0,96.1,107.0,107.1 129.0 |
Phyciodes mylitta | Mylitta Crescent | PR | 33.0 |
Phyciodes phaon | Phaon Crescent | HPS | 91.1 |
Phyciodes picta | Painted Crescent | PR | 18.0,35.1,63.0,114.0,114.1 |
Phyciodes texana | Texan Crescent | HPS | 104.0,114.1 |
Phyciodes tharos | Pearl Crescent | PR | 18.0 |
Phyciodes vesta | Vesta Crescent | PR | 114.1 |
Polygonia interrogationis | Question Mark | PR | 29.0,129.0,131.0 |
Texola elada | Elada Checkerspot | PR/HPS | 10.1,114.0,114.1 |
Thessalia theona | Theona Checkerspot | PR | 28.0,28.1,68.0,68.1 |
Thessalia fulvia | Fulvia Checkerspot | PR | 28.0,28.1,28.2 |
Vanessa annabella | West Coast Lady | HPS | 5.0,7.0,73.0,74.0,112.0,113.0 118.0,131.0 |
Vanessa atalanta | Red Admiral | HPS | 86.0,86.1,131.0,131.1,131.2 |
Vanessa cardui | Painted Lady | HPS | 33.0,58.0 |
Vanessa virginiensis | American Lady | HPS | 16.0,33.0,55.0,58.0,133 |
Danaidae - Milkweed Butterflies |
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Species | Common Name | Status | Representative Host Plants |
Danaus glippus | Queen | HPS | 17.0,108.0 |
Danaus plexippus | Monarch | HPS | 12.0,17.0 |
Hesperiidae - Skippers |
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Species | Common Name | Status | Representative Host Plants |
Achalarus casica | Desert Cloudywing | PR | 42.0 |
Agathymus aryxna | Arizona Giant Skipper | PR | 4.4 |
Agathymus mariae | Mary's Giant Skipper | PR | 4.1,4.2,4.3,4.5 |
Agathymus neumoegeni | Orange Giant Skipper | PR | 4.2,4.3 |
Amblyscirtes aeneus | Bronze Roadside Skipper | PR | 23.1 |
Amblyscirtes eos | Dotted Roadside Skipper | PR | 85.2 |
Amblyscirtes oslari | Oslar's Roadside Skipper | PR | in lab:37.1 |
Amblyscirtes texanae | Texas Roadside Skipper | PR | 85.1 |
Ancyloxypha arene | Tropical Least Skipper | PR | 46.1 |
Atalopedies campestris | Sachem | HPS | 37.1,43.0,47.0,52.1 |
Atrytonopsis python | Python Skipper | PR | unknown |
Atrytonopsis viernecki | Vierneck's Skipper | PR | unknown |
Calpoides ethilius | Brazilian Skipper | HPS | 26.0 |
Celotes nessus | Streaky Skipper | PR | 1.1,5.1,118.0, 118.1 |
Chioides catillus | White-striped Longtail | HPS | not colonizing? |
Codatractus arizoniensis | Arizona Skipper | PR | 51.1 |
Cogia hippalus | Acacia Skipper | HPS | not colonizing? |
Copaeodes aurantiacus | Orange Skipperling | PR | 23.1,37.1 |
Erynnis brizo | Sleepy Duskywing | PR | 101.3,101.5 |
Erynnis funeralis | Funereal Duskywing | PR | 62.0,70.0,77.0,103.0,103.1 |
Erynnis meridianus | Meridian Duskywing | PR | 101.0,101.1 |
Erynnis tristis | Mournful Duskywing | PR | 101.2,101.4 |
Heliopetes domicella | Erichson's White Skipper | HPS | not colonizing? |
Hesperia pahaska | Pahaska Skipper | PR | 23.2,50.2 |
Hesperia uncas | Uncas Skipper | PR | 23.2,50.1,120.1 |
Hesperopsis alphaeus | Saltbush Sootywing | PR | 20.0,20.1,32.0 |
Hylephila phyleus | Fiery Skipper | PR | 37.1,43.0 |
Lerodea eufala | Eufala Skipper | HPS | 30.0,37.1,46.1,111.0,117.1, 139.1 |
Megathymus ursus | Ursine Giant Skipper | PR | 138.1,138.3,138.4 |
Megathymus yuccae | Yucca Giant Skipper | PR | 138.2 |
Pholisora catullus | Common Sootywing | PR | 8.1,8.2,32.1,32.2 |
Polites carus | Carus Skipper | PR | possibly 23.2 |
Polygonus leo | Hammock Skipper | HPS | not colonizing? |
Pyrgus albescens | White Checkered Skipper | PR | 5.0,25.0,60.0,74.0,118.0 |
Pyrgus communis | Common Checkered Skipper | PR | 1.0,7.0,73.0,112.0,118.0 |
Pyrgus philetas | Desert Checkered Skipper | PR | 74.0,112.0 |
Pyrgus scriptura | Small Checkered Skipper | PR | 75.1,118.2 |
Staphylus ceos | Golden-headed Scallopwing | PR | 32.3 |
Stinga morrisoni | Morrison's Skipper | PR | unknown |
Systasea pulverulenta | Texas Powdered Skipper | PR | 1.1,1.2,6.1,119.1 |
Systasea zampa | Arizona Powdered Skipper | PR | 1.0,59.0 |
Thorybes pylades | Northern Cloudywing | PR | 9.0,19.1,42.0, 77.0,102.0,128.0 |