Butterflies & Moths

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

Funereal Duskywing
Mournful Duskywing
Northern White-skipper
Erichson’s White-skipper
Mojave Sootywing
Desert Checkered Skipper

Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters)

Atlides halesus  
Brephidium exilis  
Leptotes marina  

Great Purple Hairstreak
Western Pygmy-Blue
Marine Blue
Acmon Blue

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

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

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—