Tip: Think of your own ways to remember butterflies by knowing their field marks.

1. Learn easy ways to remember Tip: Think of your own ways to remember butterflies by knowing their field marks. Q. What are “field marks?” • Field marks are lines, spots, • patterns, shapes and colors that help us • identify animals, including butterflies. Spicebush Swallowtail The Spicebush Swallowtail has a “blue tooth.” Here are some examples of how you can associate unrelated things to field marks. The connection will help you remember the butterfly. Southern Skipperling Viceroy Little Yellow The Southern Skipperling has a white ray on its hind wing. What would you associate with this field mark to help you remember the butterfly? These lines appear on the Viceroy like a “smiley face.”No similar butterfly has these lines. The Little Yellow has two small dots by the body. The word “little” has two Ts.

2. Observe still butterflies What is similar about these butterflies? What is different ? Tip: Look carefully at the butterfly while it’s still before you identify it. Example: The Orange Sulphur and Clouded Sulphur, which look alike, can easily be confused with the Sleepy Orange, especially as they fly. All of these are bright yellow to orange when they fly. They also share a dark margin on the dorsal (upper) side of their wings. Orange Sulphur Sleepy Orange Notice the smudgy line on the ventral side of the hind wing. Note the row of dots on the ventral (underneath) side of the hind wing.

3. Look at the ventral side Tip: Sometimes looking at the ventral side of the wings helps with ID. Painted Lady Dorsal views of each butterfly are very similar. American Lady Painted Lady Example: Get a look at the ventral view to see that the Painted Lady has four small eyespots. The American Lady has two large ones. American Lady

4. Note similar field marks in sexes Tip: Learn the similarities in field marks between males and females. Notice the similar markings between the male and female of these two species. The pattern of the field marks is always similar between the two sexes, even though wing color and appearance of the field marks sometimes differs between males and females of the same species. female male These Checkered Whites have similar field marks, but the wing color is different. (left photo) Markings on the female are larger and more distinct. (right photo) Two male Cloudless Sulphurs “puddle,” or sip moisture, to gather salts and proteins. female males

5. Note similar field marks in sexes Tip: Learn the similarities in field marks between males and females. The pattern of field marks is always similar between the two sexes, even though the appearance of the field marks can differ between males and females of the same species. Both the males and females of these two species have blue on the dorsal hind wing. The females have more blue. Tiger Swallowtail -- male Tiger Swallowtail -- female Q. Which are the females? • If you answered each of the • ones on the right, you are • correct! Black Swallowtail -- male Black Swallowtail -- female

6. Note similar field marks across seasons Tip: Learn the similarities in field marks that appear differently throughout the year, especially among whites and sulphurs. Barred Yellow, white form, summer Note: These are not the same individuals pictured for each species. New generations display differences in appearance throughout the year. The Barred Yellow transitions between two colors. But note the bright yellow field mark on the ventral forewing. It is always present. Barred Yellow, yellow form, summer The Dainty Sulphur transitions between yellow, with some black scales, to a drab olive on the hind wing. But note the black dot field mark on the forewing. It is always there. Dainty Sulphur, summer form Dainty Sulphur, winter form

7. Become a specialist Tip: Learn a few similar butterflies, then learn another batch after you master the first. Black Swallowtail The Black Swallowtail has an extra orange dot. The Spicebush Swallowtail has a “blue tooth.” Spicebush Swallowtail Tiger Swallowtail (black female) The black female Tiger Swallowtail has the same pattern of black stripes as the yellow females and males (male below). An outline of the row of orange dots on the Pipevine Swallowtail resembles a curved pipe. Pipevine Swallowtail

8. Part II • Challenge your identification skills Duke’s Skipper

9. Challenge your identification skills Viceroy or Monarch? Hint: What is the field mark for the Viceroy? Click on the butterfly you think is the Viceroy. Viceroy! See how the “smile line” appears on the ventral hind wing. Monarch Tip: Think of your own ways to remember butterflies by knowing their field marks. Clouded Skipper This butterfly has dark scaling on the ventral side of the hind wing. How would this field mark help you remember the name of the butterfly? Stumped? Click on the butterfly for a suggestion. The dark scaling is shaped like a tornado, or funnel cloud. The cloud shape can help you remember the name, “Clouded Skipper.”

10. Challenge continued… Are these the same kind of butterfly? Tip: Learn the similarities in field marks that appear differently throughout the year, especially among the whites and sulphurs. Yes! They are all Sleepy Oranges. They are the same species of butterfly, but they are not the same individual. New generations, and males and females, display differences in the same field marks throughout the year. Q. How can you tell they are Sleepy Oranges? A. They have the same field mark-- a smudgy line--that identifies them as the Sleepy Orange.

11. Challenge continued… Tip: Learn the similarities in field marks between males and females. Which two butterflies are the same species?

12. Challenge continued… Q. Which two butterflies are the same Species? Pipevine Swallowtail, male • The Black Swallowtails. Earlier you learned the females have more blue on the hind wing than the males. The blue scaling is a similar field mark each sex shares. • Another field mark the male and female share is the dot near the top edge of the forewings. Black Swallowtail, female Tiger Swallowtail, black female Black Swallowtail, female

13. Challenge continued… Tip: Learn the similarities in field marks that appear differently throughout the year, especially among the whites and sulphurs. Which butterfly is a different species?

14. Challenge continued… Tip: Learn the similarities in field marks that appear differently throughout the year, especially among the whites and sulphurs. Little Yellow Barred Yellow--summer The Little Yellow at the upper left is the different species. Remember a good field mark is the two small dots by the body. The other two butterflies are the Barred Yellow which have winter and summer forms. Which butterfly is a different species? Barred Yellow--winter

15. Congratulations! You are well on your way to identifying butterflies. Get out soon and take a look!!!