Download eastern massachusetts - North American Butterfly Association

EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
by Brian Cassie
TOP BUTTERFLY NECTAR FLOWERS
(OBSERVED IN NATURE)
A number in front of a flower name indicates a particularly recommended plant (1 = most recommended). Numbers in "BLOOM
SEASON" correspond to the month (4 = April, 5 = May, etc.). Abbreviations: A = alien species, N = native species.
FLOWER
N
N
A
N
A
A
A
A
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
BLOOM ATTRACTED
HEIGHT COLOR SEASON BUTTERFLIES
Lowbush blueberry
1-2’
Vaccinium angustifolium
Common blackberry
2-3’
Rubus alleghaniensis
white
4-5
white
6
Common hawkweed
1-3’
yellow
Hieracium vulgatum
Gray dogwood
5-10’
white
Cornus racemosa
Ox-eye daisy
1-2’
white
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum
Red clover
6-12"
purple
Trifolium pratense
Canada thistle
1-3’
pink
Cirsium arvense
Brown knapweed
1-3’
rose-purple
Centaurea jacea
Narrow-leaved mtn mint 1-2’
white
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
Smooth sumac
5-10’
white
Rhus glabra
Swamp milkweed
2-6’
pink
Asclepias incarnata
Wild Indigo
1-3’
yellow
Baptisia tinctoria
Black-eyed Susan
1-3’
yellow
Rudbeckia serotina
Butterfly milkweed
1-2’
orange
Asclepias tuberosa
Buttonbush
3-10’
white
Cephalanthus occidentalis
6-7
Elfins, Spring Azure,
Duskywings
Lycaenids (Gossamer Wings)
Nymphalids (Brush foots)
Skippers
Nymphalids (Brush foots)
Skippers
Nymphalids (Brush foots)
Skippers
All
6-10
All
6
6
7
All but Swallowtails
7
Whites, Sulphurs, Skippers,
Nymphalids (Brush foots)
Hairstreaks
Skippers
All
7
7
7
7-8
Hairstreaks, Fritillaries,
marsh skippers
Lycaenids (Gossamer Wings)
Skippers
All but Swallowtails
7-8
All
7-8
Nymphalids (Brush foots)
Skippers
7
COMMENTS
invasive and
weedy
EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
TOP BUTTERFLY NECTAR FLOWERS
(continued)
FLOWER
A
N
N
N
N
A
N
A
N
N
N
N
BLOOM ATTRACTED
HEIGHT COLOR SEASON BUTTERFLIES
Catnip
1-3’
Nepeta cataria
Common milkweed
3-6’
Asclepias syriaca
Meadowsweet
2-6’
Spiraea latifolia
New Jersey tea
2-4’
Ceanothus americanus
Pickerelweed
1-3’
Pontederia cordata
Queen Anne’s lace
1-3’
Daucus carota
Spotted knapweed
1-3’
Centaurea maculosa
Purple loosestrife
3-6’
Lythrum salicaria
Common boneset
2-5’
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Spotted joe-pye-weed
3-8’
Eupatorium maculatum
Lance-leaved goldenrod 2-4’
Solidago graminifolia
Asters
1-6’
Aster
COMMENTS
white,lilac
7-8
Skippers
pink
7-8
All
white
7-8
Hairstreaks
white
7-8
blue-violet
7-8
Lycaenids (Gossamer Wings)
Nymphalids (Brush foots)
Skippers
white
7-8
All but skippers
pink
7-8
purple
7-9
white
8-9
Whites, Sulphurs, Skippers, very invasive and
Nymphalids (Brush foots)
weedy
All
very invasive; may
be banned in your
area
All
pink
8-9
yellow
8-9
white,purple8-10
All, especially Fritillaries,
Leonard’s Skipper
Nymphalids (Brush foots)
Skippers
Whites, Sulphurs,
Monarch
NECTAR FLOWERS THAT DON’T WORK IN THIS REGION
(OBSERVED IN NATURE)
Many of these species occur in huge populations in meadows and old fields and usually not a butterfly is seen on a single blossom.
Some of the flowers are tiny while other species are large and conspicuous. Abbreviations: A = alien species, N = native species.
FLOWER
N
A
A
N
N
Common blue-eyed grass Sisynrinchium montanum
Hop clover Trifolium agrarium
Common chickweed Stellaria media
Bluets Houstonia caerulea
Blue toadflax Linaria canadensis
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EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
NECTAR FLOWERS THAT DON’T WORK IN THIS REGION
(continued)
FLOWER
N Bedstraws Galium
A/N Bindweeds Convolvulus
N Birdfoot violet Viola pedata
A Butter and eggs Linaria vulgaris
Campion
Common elder
N Common evening primrose Oenothera biennis
A Common mullein Veronicastrum virginicum
A Common nightshade Solanum nigrum
A Common St. Johnswort Hypericum perforatum
N Common speedwell Veronica officinalis
A Daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus
N Dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
A Field pennycress Thlaspi arvense
A Flax Linum usitatissimum
A Hedge mustard Sisymbrium officinale
A Lesser stitchwort Stellaria graminea
A Multiflora rose Rosa multiflora
N Steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa
N Whorled loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
TOP CATERPILLAR FOOD PLANTS
A number in front of a plant name indicates a particularly recommended plant (1 = most recommended). Abbreviations: A = alien
species, N = native species.
NAME
N
American elm
Ulmus americana
A/N Artemisias
Artemisia
A
Aspens
Populus
A
A
A
HEIGHT BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS
80-100’
6-24"
10-30’
Cabbages
1’
Brassica
Carrot
6-12"
Daucus carota
English plantain
1’
Plantago lanceolata
Question Mark
Eastern Comma
American Lady
Painted Lady
Red-spotted Purple
COMMENTS
Caterpillar "nests" are
usually easy to find.
Telltale caterpillar sign:
mid-rib remains after
remainder of leaf eaten.
Cabbage White
Black Swallowtail
Baltimore Checkerspot
3
Caterpillars in web late summer; still colonial in spring
EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
TOP CATERPILLAR FOOD PLANTS
(continued)
NAME
N
N
A
N
A
N
HEIGHT BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS
Locusts
20-50’
Gleditsia & Robinia
Milkweeds
1-4’
Asclepias
Parsley
6-12"
Petroselinum hortense
Sassafras
10-50’
Sassafras albidum
Stinging nettle
2-4’
Urtica dioica
Willows
5-30’
Salix
Silver-spotted Skipper
COMMENTS
Watch for telltale caterpillar
shelters.
See "FLOWERS" above
Monarch
Black Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail
Caterpillars live in leaves
folded in half
Watch for leaves woven
together into a "nest."
Eastern Comma
Red Admiral
Mourning Cloak
Viceroy
COMMON BUTTERFLIES FOR YOUR GARDEN & YARD
A number in front of a butterfly name indicates a particularly likely species (1 = most expected to be seen). Numbers in "FLIGHT
PERIOD" and "CATERPILLAR SEASON" correspond to the month (4 = April, 5 = May, etc.), with < meaning earlier in the month,
m the middle of the month, and > late in the month.
NAME
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
Cabbage White
Pieris rapae
American Copper
Lycaena phlaeas
Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus
Peck’s Skipper
Polites peckius
Hobomok Skipper
Poanes hobomok
Dun Skipper
Euphyes vestris
FLIGHT
PERIOD
CATERPILLAR
FOOD PLANTS
6-9
lilac
4-9
cabbages
5-9
sheep sorrel
7-9
violets
6-10
milkweeds
6-8
locusts
6,8
grasses
6
grasses
7-8
grasses
4
COMMENTS
daily visitor to the
garden spring-fall
EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
LOCAL & UNUSUAL BUTTERFLIES FOR YOUR GARDEN & YARD
Numbers in "FLIGHT PERIOD" and "CATERPILLAR SEASON" correspond to the month (4 = April, 5 = May, etc.), with < meaning
earlier in the month, m the middle of the month, and > late in the month.
FLIGHT
NAME
Harvester
Feniseca tarquinius
Olive Hairstreak
Callophrys gryneus (gryneus)
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
CATERPILLARCATERPILLAR
PERIOD
SEASON
FOOD PLANTS
5-10
5-10
5-6,8
aphids on alders
COMMENTS
easiest to find as
caterpillar
Eastern red cedar
5-10
5-9
Many species; gar- low number in this
den varieties include area most years
artemisia, hollyhock,
perennial bachelor
buttons
GENERAL COMMENTS ABOUT GARDENING IN THIS REGION
USDA ZONE: 6
(5 in central Massachusetts)
Butterfly gardens in May, September, October, and November often (should) have a lot more variety of nectaring
sources than butterflies can find in the wild. These can be the most satisfying months to have a butterfly garden,
even though the number of butterfly species will be greater June to August. Three of the four Massachusetts state
records for Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus) have come from suburban gardens, proving the value of these
places for finding unusual butterfly observations. In late fall in this region, garden chrysanthemums attract whatever
butterflies are still flying. Many late October and November butterfly records are from gardens.
Copyright  1996 by the North American Butterfly Association, Inc. All rights reserved.
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