Bill Williams River

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Butterflies Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge Butterflies at Bill Williams River NWR The Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge supports the last and largest remnant of the native riparian habitats that once filled the valleys of the lower Colorado River and its tributaries. These now unique habitats support many butterfly species. A total of 34 species have been documented in the refuge, 11 (32%) of which were found only here in a recent study (Nelson and Andersen 1998). One species, MacNeill’s sootywing skipper, is of some concern to conservationists due to its rarity. The larvae apparently only feed on one species of saltbush (Atriplex lentiformis), a native shrub of the lower Colorado River valley. Wiesenborn (1997) often observed adults flying between the saltbush and honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosis). Scientific name Common name Swallowtails (Papilionidae) Papilio polyxenes Black Swallowtail Papilio Zelacaon Zelacaon Swallowtail Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae) Pontia protodice Checkered White Colias eurytheme Orange (Alfalfa) Sulphur Phoebis sennae Cloudless Sulphur Eureme nicippe Sleepy Orange (Nicippe Yellow) Nathalis iole Dainty Sulphur Great Purple Hairstreak Gossamer-winged Butterflies (Lycaenidae) Atlides halesus Great Purple Hairstreak Strymon melinus Gray Hairstreak Metalmarks (Riodinidae) Calephelis nemesis Fatal Metalmark Ministrymon leda Leda Ministreak Apodemia mormo Mormon Metalmark Brephidium exile Pygmy Blue Apodemia palmeri Palmer’s Metalmark Leptotes marina Marine Blue Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) Libytheana carinenta Snout Butterfly Hemiargus ceraunus Cerannus Blue Hemiargus isola Reakirt’s Blue Calephelis wrighti Wright’s Metalmark Euptoieta claudia Variegated Fritillary Nymphalis antiopa Mourning Cloak Vanessa (Cynthia) cardui Painted Lady Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral References Levy, J. N. 1996. Pers.comm. Milne, L and M. Milne. 1980. Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. Alfred Knopf, N.Y. 988 pgs. Nelson, S. M. and D. C. Anderson. 1998. Butterfly (Papilionoidea and Hesperioidae) communities associated with some natural and altered riparian habitats along the lower Colorado River. Technical Memorandum No. 8220-98-3. 32 pgs. Tilden, J. W. and A. C. Smith. 1986. A Field Guide to Western Butterflies. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. 370 pgs. Wiesenborn, W. D. 1997. Hesperopsis gracielae (MacNeill) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) flight between hostplants and Prosopis glandulosa Torrey. PanPacific Entomologist 73(3):186-189. Common buckeye. Jumonia coenia Common Buckeye Hylephila phyleus Fiery Skipper Limenitis arthemis Red Spotted Purple Lerodea eufala Euphala Skipper Limenitis (Basilarchia) archippus Viceroy Danaus plexippus Monarch Danaus gilippus Queen Skippers (Hesperiidae) Erynnis funeralis Funereal Duskywing Pyrugus scriptura Small Checkered Skipper Pyrgus communis (Grote) Common Checkered Skipper Heliopetes ericetorum Northern White-Skipper Hesperopsis gracielae (MacNiell) MacNiell’s Sootywing Skipper Copaedes aurantiacus Orange Skipperling Viceroy.