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The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilionidae) occurs throughout the forests, meadows, and wooded suburban areas of the eastern United States, but is replaced by the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail in nothern New England and the Western Tiger Swallowtail in western North America. One of the thrills of my life was seeing my first tiger swallowtail as a young boy. A curious feature of this species are the two forms of the female. In the northern part of its range the female resembles the male, but toward the south, the female is dark and is a mimic of the distasteful Pipevine Swallowtail.

The West Virginia White (Pieridae) is a denizen mature, rich deciduous forests of the eastern United States. The larvae feed on species of the woodland crucifer genus Dentaria. The species is becoming quite rare and local because of the disappearance of old forests and possibly because of competition with the Cabbage White (Pieris rapae).

Learn More About Pieris virginiensis

The Falcate Orange Tip (Pieridae) is on of the most distinctive and delicate species of eastern butterflies. The species occurs most commonly in the forests of the southeastern United States, particularly in wet woods along streams and swamps. The caterpillars feed on a variety of crucifers. Adults fly from March to June.

The Hickory Hairstreak (Lycaenidae) is one of a large number of hairstreak species. Many hairstreaks are rather dull looking on their dorsal surface, but distinctively and curiously marked below. This particular species occurs through the northern United States west to the beginnings of the Great Plains. The species occurs in deciduous forests and the larvae feed primarily on species of hickories.

The Atlantis Fritillary (Nymphalidae) is one species from the large and complex genus Speyeria. The Atlantis Fritillary occurs in the northeastern United States and Southern Canada and lives in deciduous forest, meadows, and sometimes bogs and swamps. The larvae of almost all species of Speyeria feed on species of violets. This species, and most species of Speyeria, are characterized by silvery patches on the underside of the hindwing.

The Question Mark (Nymphalidae) is common in the eastern half of the United States occurring is woods along rivers, city parks and wooded suburbs, and other wooded localities. Their are two broods of this species with one brood appearing in the late fall and overwintering as adults and coming out in the early spring. Sometimes on warm winter days in the north you will see this butterfly. The adults are commonly found on sap on trees. The caterpillars feed on a variety of plants but particularly species of nettles.

The Mourning Cloak (Nymphalidae) is one of the most stately butterflies of North America. The species occurs through almost all of North America and in Eurasia as well. You will find Mourning Cloaks most commonly in the woods along rivers and streams, but it also occurs in city parks, suburban areas, and forests. The adults are very fond of tree sap and can often be found on trees when the sap is running.

The White Admiral (Nymphalidae) is a widespread species of the eastern half of the United States and Southern Canada. It also occurs in the U.S. southwest. The species comes in two distinct populations. The north population (White Admiral) has the maculation and coloration shown in the picture on the left. The southern populations looks completely different and are commonly called Red-spotted Purples. The southern form is believed to mimic the distasteful Pipevine Swallowtail. The northern population is found in deciduous or mixed deciduous and conferous forest dominated by aspen and birch. The southern form is most common in deciduous forest and river bottoms.

The Northern Pearly Eye (Nymphalidae - Satyrinae) is an inconspicuous species of wet deciduous forest, particularly alongside swamps, marshes, or streams. They fly slowly among the undergrowth and are often difficult to spot. The caterpillars feed on various species of grasses. This species occurs primarily in the northeastern United States and Southern Canada while related species fly in the southeastern United States.