Return to Insect Orders

Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies)

Acharia stimulea (Saddleback Caterpillar Moth)

Order: Lepidoptera Family: Limacodidae Genus: Acharia Acharia stimulea (formerly Sibine stimulea) belongs to the moth family Limacodidae, commonly known as the Slug Caterpillars (1). Acharia stimulea caterpillars are brown with a vivid green saddle and are covered with hairs which deliver a potent sting when touched (2). Their striking coloration is likely a warning to predators to “back …

Calycopis cecrops (Red-banded Hairstreak)

Order: Lepidoptera Family: Lycaenidae Genus: Calycopis Calycopis cecrops is one of two species in the genus Calycopis.  Within the United States, it inhabits overgrown and sandy fields, forest edges, and coastal hammocks from Kansas and Texas in the West to Connecticut in the North to Florida in the south.  This specimen was found in a flower …

Junonia coenia (Common Buckeye)

Order: Lepidoptera Family: Nymphalidae Genus: Junonia Junonia coenia (also known as Precis coenia) is a beautiful butterfly with conspicuous eyespots on both the fore- and hind-wings.  This species occurs through much of the United States, northern Mexico and Cuba, and frequents open, sunny habitats with some bare ground.  Caterpillars feed on plantain, snapdragon, Gerardia spp. …

Phoebis sennae – Cloudless Sulpur

Order: Lepidoptera Family: Pieridae Genus: Phoebis Phoebis sennae, is commonly called the cloudless sulphur.  It belongs to the Order Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), an Order of more than 11,500 species in the United States and Canada (1). Lepidoptera means “scaly wings” in reference to the often colorful scales that cover their wings (1). Butterflies have a long …

Zale lunata (Lunate Zale Moth)

Order: Lepidoptera Family: Noctuidae Genus: Zale Zale lunata is a moth belonging to the Family Noctuidae, and Subfamily Catocalinae. The Noctuidae are a large family with more than 2,900 species in North America. Species of this family are mostly nocturnal, and are commonly attracted to lights at night. Z. lunata is the largest and most common …