Washington Area Butterfly Club

Butterflies Occurring in the DC Area
by Richard H. Smith

ACCIDENTAL1 OR POSSIBLY STRAY2 BUTTERFLY SPECIES

The species in this list were not included in the pre-January 2007 "Butterflies Occurring in the DC Area" list. The Little Metalmark record is from the 1950's. The Zebra Heliconian and Queen are relatively recent.

Species Scientific Name
Little Metalmark Calephelis virginiensis
Zebra Heliconian Heliconius charithonius
Queen Danaus gilippus

STRAY2 BUTTERFLY SPECIES

Species moved to this list from the pre-January 2007 "Butterflies Occurring in the DC Area" list are indicated below by (P). The remaining species in this list were not included in the pre-January 2007 list.

Species Scientific Name
Palamedes Swallowtail Papilio palamedes (P)
Large Orange Sulphur Phoebis agarithe
Barred Yellow Eurema daira
Great Purple Hairstreak Atlides halesus
Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae
Diana Speyeria diana
Gray Comma Polygonia progne
Compton Tortoiseshell Nymphalis vaualbum
Gemmed Satyr Cyllopsis gemma (P)
Carolina Satyr Hermeuptychia sosybius
Zarucco Duskywing Erynnis zarucco (P)
Persius Duskywing Erynnis persius
Indian Skipper Hesperia sassacus
Whirlabout Polites vibex
Aaron's Skipper Poanes aaroni
Eufala Skipper Lerodea eufala
Twin-spot Skipper Oligoria maculata (P)
Brazilian Skipper Calpodes ethlius

1The Accidental category indicates species whose natural ranges are considerably outside the DC area, they are not known to stray widely, and thus their record in the DC area was probably due to their accidental introduction or to their escape from an enclosed local live display.

2The Stray category indicates species that are not resident nor known to migrate or immigrate regularly into the DC area, but which are known to have occasional isolated records considerably outside of their normal ranges, including at least one record in the DC area.


Spread-wing Skippers | Grass Skippers | Swallowtails | Whites and Sulphurs | Harvester, Coppers, Hairstreaks, and Blues | Snouts | Brush-footed | Hackberry | Satyrs and Wood Nymphs | Milkweed | Accidental and Stray Species | Extirpated Species



Updated March 29, 2007