The list below consists of 25 butterflies and 32 moths, undoubtedly a woeful underrepresentation of the true number of these charismatic taxa occurring within the Granite Mountains bioregion. We hope to bolster this list in the near future, not only with observations and photos of the species, but also with some specimen collections. Currently, only 40% of the taxa on the list below are supported by collections, most of which are housed in the GMDRC collection. All but two of the moth species listed below have only been identified through observations and photographs. We have only added the taxon to our list if the ID was considered Research Grade or done by an expert in the field (indicated with an asterisk*). To learn more about the observation and see the photo of these records, you can click on the asterisk next to the scientific name, this will take you to the iNaturalist or BugGuide page where these records can be viewed. Each scientific name is linked to a profile page on the Iowa State University BugGuide. To learn more about the species, click on the double arrow to the right of the name (⇒); this will take you to one of two websites: 1) the Butterflies and Moths of North America website has detailed information on plant hosts, ranges, life history, and verified sightings of many of these species; or 2) The Moth Photographers Group, which generally shows a range map and photos of field sightings or pinned specimens. This list can be downloaded as a pdf.
BUTTERFLIES AND SKIPPERS
Hesperiidae (Skippers)
Erynnis funeralis ⇒
Erynnis tristis ⇒
Heliopetes ericetorum ⇒
Heliopyrgus domicella ⇒
Hesperopsis libya ⇒
Pyrgus philetas ⇒
Funereal Duskywing
Mournful Duskywing
Northern White-skipper
Erichson’s White-skipper
Mojave Sootywing
Desert Checkered Skipper
Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters)
Great Purple Hairstreak
Western Pygmy-Blue
Marine Blue
Acmon Blue
Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Chlosyne californica ⇒
Danaus gilippus ⇒
* Euphydryas chalcedona ⇒
Nymphalis antiopa ⇒
* Vanessa cardui ⇒
California Patch
Queen
Variable Checkerspot
Mourning Cloak
Painted Lady
Papilionidae (Swallowtails, Parnassians)
* Papilio machaon ⇒
* Papilio polyxenes coloro ⇒
Papilio zelicaon
Old World Swallowtail
Desert Black Swallowtail
Anise Swallowtail
Riodinidae (Metalmarks)
* Apodemia mormo deserti ⇒
Apodemia palmeria ⇒
Desert Mormon Metalmark
Palmer’s Metalmark
SILKWORMS, SPHINX, AND ROYAL MOTHS
Saturniidae (Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths)
Hemileuca neumoegeni ⇒
Neumoegen’s Buckmoth
Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
* Hyles lineata ⇒
White-lined Sphinx
CURVED-HORN MOTHS
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
*Ornativalva erubescens⇒
—n/a—
GEOMETRID AND SWALLOWTAIL MOTHS
Geometridae (Geometer Moths)
* Archirhoe neomexicana ⇒
* Dichorda illustraria ⇒
* Dichordophora phoenix ⇒
* Digrammia colorata ⇒
* Glena quinquelinearia ⇒
* Letispe metanemaria ⇒
* Plataea trilinearia ⇒⇒
New Mexico Carpet Moth
—n/a—
Phoenix Emerald Moth
Creosote Moth
Five-lined Gray Moth
Baccharis Inchworm Moth
Sagebrush Girdle Moth
TENT CATERPILLARS AND LAPPET MOTHS
Lasiocampidae (Tent Caterpillar, Lappet Moths) * Malacosoma californica ⇒⇒
Tent caterpillar moth
OWLET MOTHS AND ALLIES
Erebidae (Underwing, Tiger, Snout, and Allies)
* Arachnis picta ⇒
* Hemeroplanis historialis ⇒
* Melipotis jucunda ⇒⇒
Painted Tiger Moth
—n/a—
Merry Graphic Moth
Erebidae (Underwing, Tiger, Snout, and Allies)
* Arachnis picta ⇒
* Hemeroplanis historialis ⇒
* Melipotis jucunda ⇒⇒
Noctuidae (Cutworm Moths and Allies)
* Azenia virida ⇒
* Grotellaforma lactea ⇒
Heliolonche pictipennis ⇒
* Oxycnemis fusimacula ⇒
* Ponometia elegantula ⇒
* Schinia biundulata ⇒
* Stiria dyari ⇒
* Sympistis nigrocaput ⇒
* Sympistis singularis ⇒
* Triocnemis saporis ⇒
Painted Tiger Moth
—n/a—
Merry Graphic Moth
—n/a—
—n/a—
—n/a—
—n/a—
Arizona Bird-dropping Moth
—n/a—
—n/a—
—n/a—
—n/a—
—n/a—
Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
* Datana perspicua ⇒
* Ursia noctuiformis ⇒
Spotted Datana
—n/a—
PYRALID AND CRAMBID SNOUT MOTHS
Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
* Arenochroa flavalis ⇒
* Mimoschinia rufofascialis ⇒
* Pyrausta linealis ⇒
—n/a—
Rufous-banded Crambid Moth
—n/a—
Pyralidae (Pyralid Snout Moths)
* Sosipatra rileyella ⇒
—n/a—
ERMINE MOTHS AND KIN
Ypsolophidae (Ypsolophid Moths)
* Ypsolopha delicatella ⇒
* Ypsolopha maculatella ⇒
—n/a—
—n/a—
