north american species | international species On an average day you can find the North American species below in the Butterfly Haven and throughout Chicago: Black Swallowtail Buckeye Cabbage White Viceroy Giant Swallowtail Monarch Mourning Cloak Painted Lady Pearl Crescent Red Admiral

CLICK TO DEFINE Metamorphosis Lepidoptera Over-Winter Lifetime Track Host Plant Nectar plant Cardiac Glycosides ----------Life Cycle---------- Instar Larva Pupa Adult Chrysalis Caterpillar ---------Body Parts--------- Head Thorax Abdomen Compound Eyes Antennae Clubbed Antennae Labial Palps --------Wing Parts---------- Hindwings Forewings Disc Base Apex Margin ----Digestive System---- Pharynx Crop Proboscis --Respiratory System--- Passive Respiration Spiracles Tracheal Tubes ---Circulatory System--- Hemolymph Tubular Heart -Reproductive System- Gonads Ovaries Testes Clasper Bursa Egg -----Nervous System----- Ganglia

Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) In the Chicago area, these large swallowtails are first seen in April and early May. A second generation begins emerging from chrysalides in mid-June and a third generation may emerge in August or September. Black Swallowtails are attracted to butterfly gardens with fennel or dill plants. Where do they live? - Illinois State Map - National Map Their range extends from southern Canada to northern Mexico. They are found in Arizona, New Mexico, and the eastern half of the United States. Black Swallowtails over-winter in the chrysalis stage. What do they eat? Black Swallowtail Caterpillars eat Golden Alexanders(above), Wild Carrots, Celery, Parsley and Dill. What is their habitat? Black Swallowtails like sunny places with weeds and flowers, and can be found in gardens, vacant lots, old fields, pastures and marshes. They thrive in cities and suburbs due to the abdundance of Queen Anne's Lace.

What do they look like? Black Swallowtail Butterfly Black Swallowtail Chrysalis Black Swallowtail Caterpillar go to the top

Buckeye (Junonia coenia) Where do they live? - Illinois State Map - National Map Buckeye's year-round range includes Mexico, the Caribbean and extreme southern parts of the US. During Warmer months, Buckeyes migrate northward to the midwest, sometimes as far as southern Canada. What do they eat? Buckeye Caterpillars eat Plantain(above), Snapdragon and Toadflax. What is their habitat? Buckeyes prefer fields, dunes and other open areas with flowers, especially where the vegetation is short.

What do they look like? Buckeye Butterfly Buckeye Chrysalis Buckeye Caterpillar go to the top

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) Cabbage Whites are imports from Europe. They first appeared in Canada in 1860 and have since spread as far as south Texas. They can be seen just about anywhere from March to November. Several generations are produced each year. Where do they live? - Illinois State Map - National Map The Cabbage White ranges from central Canada as far as Texas and northwest Mexico. Individuals over-winter in the chrysalis stage. What do they eat? Cabbage White caterpillar's eat: Cabbage(above), Radish, Mustard, Peppergrass, and related plants. The caterpillar is often considered an agricultural pest. What is their habitat? Cabbage White's are found in weedy habitats like vacant lots, power line right of ways and roadsides as well as in marches and gardens where it's food plants grow.

What do they look like? Cabbage White Butterfly Cabbage White Caterpillar go to the top

Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) The Giant Swallowtail is the largest of the swallowtails found in northern Illinois, but it is not very common. Adults migrate into the region from the south for winter, often traveling along rivers. They breed during July and August, but none of the eggs, caterpillars, or chrysalides can survive cold winter. Where do they live? - Illinois State Map - National Map The range of the Giant Swallowtail extends from lower New England west to the Rocky Mountains and south through Mexico and South America. Giant Swallowtails migrate to the warmer climates during the winter months. What do they eat? In the northern part of its range the caterpillar's main host plant is Prickly Ash. In Illinois the Hop Tree is also used as a host plant. Pictured above is a Seville Orange Citrus tree which is the host plant for the southern part of the Giant Swallowtail's range. What is their habitat? Over their entire range, Giant Swallowtails can be found in many habitats. In the Midwest, they are most often seen near larger waterways, like the Illinois, Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers.

What do they look like? Giant Swallowtail Butterfly Giant Swallowtail Chrysalis Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar go to the top

Monarch (Danaus plexippus) One of the most familiar North American butterflies, the Monarch is distinctive for it's striking colors and as a study in butterfly biology. The caterpillars accumulate toxins from the steady milkweed diet which makes this animal poisonous to predators especially birds. Birds apparently learn to avoid eating monarchs and other butterflies, like Viceroys, that look like Monarchs. Where do they live? - Illinois State Map - National Map Monarchs range across North America – coast to coast – and up into southern Canada during the summer. Every autumn, millions of Monarchs migrate south and west to central California and central Mexico. Monarchs are also found year-round in Central America. What do they eat? Monarch Caterpillars eat Milkweed(above) it is therefore referred to as the Monarch's Host Plant. What is their habitat? Monarchs will inhabit almost any sunny place with flowers, including parks, gardens or praires.

What do they look like? Monarch Butterfly Monarch Chrysalis & Caterpillar go to the top

Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) Mourning Cloaks may live for ten or more months – a long time for a butterfly. They hibernate during winter in hollow trees or under bark. They can handle the cold due to special antifreeze in their blood that keeps them from freezing. They emerge once the weather warms, sometimes even when there is still snow on the ground. They are often the first butterflies to appear. Where do they live? - Illinois State Map - National Map The range of the Mourning Cloak covers most of North America south of the artic. Sometimes they are found as far south as northern Texas and northwest Mexico. The Mourning Cloak over-winters in the adult stage. What do they eat? Mourning Cloak caterpillars feed on willows(above), cottonwoods and elms. What is their habitat? Mourning Cloaks are seen in a wide variety of habitats, including along dirt roads and equestrian trails in the woodlands. They also fly in residential areas with tree-lined streets.

What do they look like? Mourning Cloak Butterfly Mourning Cloak Chrysalis Mourning Cloak Caterpillar go to the top

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Painted Ladies are found year-round in the deserts of the southwest. They migrate into the Midwest and northeastern states each spring and return to the southwest before winter. In some years – 1992 was one example – they may multiply rapidly across the entire continent in a population explosion. Where do they live? - Illinois State Map - National Map They are found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. In North America, they live year-round in Mexico, but migrate north each year across the continent, all the way to the Artic circle. What do they eat? Painted Lady Caterpillars eat Thistle(above), Mallow, Hollyhock and related plants. These plants are referred to as the Painted Ladys' Host Plants. What is their habitat? Painted Ladies are found just about anywhere that thistles grow.

What do they look like? Painted Lady Butterfly Painted Lady Chrysalis Painted Lady Caterpillar go to the top

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Very common in the Midwest, the Pearl Crescent is just as much at home in a vacant city lot as it is in a flower-filled tall grass prairie. Three generations fly each year, between April and October. If it's small, flies and is orange and brown, its probably a Pearl Crescent. Where do they live? - Illinois State Map - National Map Pearl Crescents range from Mexico northward over eastern two-thirds of the US and into the southern Canadian plains. They over-winter in the larva stage. What do they eat? Pearl Crescent caterpillars feed on Asters, pictured above is a New England Aster. What is their habitat? Pearl Crescents are seen in many different habitats, from natural praires and wetlands, to the weedy areas along bicycle trails and railroad tracks.

What do they look like? Pearl Crescent Butterfly Pearl Crescent Caterpillars go to the top

Red Admiral (Vanessa atlanta) Red Admirals are often seen in residential neighborhoods of large cities like Chicago and Milwaukee. They are frequent visitors to parks and gardens, but just as much at home in a prairie preserve. Where do they live? - Illinois State Map - National Map The range of the Red Admiral extends from Guatemala up into Northern Canada. While they fly year-round in Guatemala and Mexico, in the northern areas of their range they hibernate or overwinter as chrysalides. What do they eat? Red Admiral caterpillars eat plants of the Nettle family (Urticacea) such as Pellitory. What is their habitat? Red Admirals can be found in most sunny places including moist fields, prairies or marshes. In urban areas, look for them in parks or along tree lined residential streets.

What do they look like? Red Admiral Butterfly Red Admiral Chrysalis Red Admiral Caterpillar go to the top

Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) Viceroy butterflies closely resemble Monarchs, but their behavior is very different. Viceroys prefer wet habitats and are territorial – they will chase away other butterflies that come too close. Viceroys also fly by flapping their wings quickly, while Monarchs usually glide between wing strokes. Where do they live? - Illinois State Map - National Map Viceroys range from the mountain states east to the Atlantic and from Texas north into the Canadian plains. They over-winter in the larva stage. What do they eat? Viceroy caterpillars feed on Willows(above), Aspens and Cottowoods. What is their habitat? Viceroys are usually found in wetlands and praires with willows. They are also found in human-disturbed wet areas, like suburban lake edges.

What do they look like? Viceroy Butterfly Viceroy Chrysalis Viceroy Caterpillar go to the top