Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Nymphalis
Species: Antiopa
More Mourning Cloak Butterflies
Updated June 19 2017
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Polygonia
Species: Comma
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Vanessa
Species: Atalanta
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Nymphalis
Species: L-album
More Compton Tortoiseshell Butterflies
Updated May 17 2019
Northern Crescent Butterfly (female)? - wingspan approx.
3.5 cm
3.5 cm
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Phyciodes
Species: Cocyta
Home
Brush-footed Butterflies
Page Last Updated: October 10 2020
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
More Red Admiral Butterflies
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Updated October 26 2017
Updated October 12 2017
More Question Mark Butterflies
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Genus: Limenitis (also Basilarchia)
Species: Archippus
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Monarch mimic - smaller than the Monarch - black line
across the hindwings
across the hindwings
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
The female has heavier black markings and the male has
broader, more open orange areas - Types A and B may be
different species
broader, more open orange areas - Types A and B may be
different species
18 species
Mourning Cloak Information
One of the first butterflies seen in spring - seen as early
as mid March
as mid March
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Aglais
Species: Milberti
More Milbert's Tortoiseshell Butterflies
Updated May 19 2019
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Vanessa
Species: Virginiensis
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Vanessa
Species: Cardui
More Painted Lady Butterflies
Updated November 7 2017
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Also known as Thistle Butterfly or Cosmopolite.
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Polygonia
Species: Comma
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Junonia
Species: Coenia
More Buckeye Butterflies
Updated September 27 2020
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Species: Archippus
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Very similar to Pearl Crescent (see above) - Northern
Crescent hindwings have broader, more open orange
areas compared to Pearl Crescent
Crescent hindwings have broader, more open orange
areas compared to Pearl Crescent
Genus: Phyciodes
Species: Tharos
More Pearl Crescent Butterflies
Updated May 19 2019
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Limenitis (also Basilarchia)
Species: Arthemis arthemis
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
More White Admiral / Red-spotted
Purple Butterflies
Purple Butterflies
Updated June 29 2013
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Speyeria
Species: Cybele
More Great Spangled Fritillaries
Updated September 25 2017
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Vanessa
Species: Atalanta
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
More Red Admiral Butterflies
Updated October 26 2017
Also known as Alderman - may be black
Also known as Alderman
More Viceroy Butterflies
Updated October 10 2020
More American Ladies
Updated October 26 2017
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Polygonia
Species: Interrogationis
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
More Eastern Comma Butterflies
Updated May 17 2019
More Eastern Comma Butterflies
Updated May 17 2019
Named after the white question-mark shape on
the underside of each hindwing - 2 broods
(summer and fall) - fall brood has light
hindwings (see above)
the underside of each hindwing - 2 broods
(summer and fall) - fall brood has light
hindwings (see above)
Named after the white comma shape on the
underside of each hindwing - 2 broods (summer
and fall) - fall brood has light hindwings (see
above)
underside of each hindwing - 2 broods (summer
and fall) - fall brood has light hindwings (see
above)
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Euphydryas
Species: Phaeton
More Baltimore Checkerspot
Updated October 26 2017
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Euphydryas
Species: Phaeton
More Baltimore Checkerspot
Updated October 26 2017
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Named after the white comma shape on the
underside of each hindwing - 2 broods (summer
and fall) - summer brood has dark hindwings
(see below)
underside of each hindwing - 2 broods (summer
and fall) - summer brood has dark hindwings
(see below)
Updated October 12 2017
More Question Mark Butterflies
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Polygonia
Species: Interrogationis
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Genus: Limenitis (also Basilarchia)
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Limenitis (also Basilarchia)
Species: Arthemis
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
The Red-spotted Purple butterfly (L. arthemis astyanax -
see above) and the White Admiral butterfly (L. arthemis
arthemis - see above) are considered to be the same
species
see above) and the White Admiral butterfly (L. arthemis
arthemis - see above) are considered to be the same
species
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
The Red-spotted Purple butterfly (L. arthemis astyanax -
see below) and the White Admiral butterfly (L. arthemis
arthemis) are considered to be the same species
see below) and the White Admiral butterfly (L. arthemis
arthemis) are considered to be the same species
More White Admiral / Red-spotted
Purple Butterflies
Purple Butterflies
Updated June 29 2013
Pearl Crescent Butterfly (Type A male?) - wingspan approx.
3.5 cm
3.5 cm
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
The female has heavier black markings and the male has
broader, more open orange areas - Types A and B may be
different species
broader, more open orange areas - Types A and B may be
different species
Genus: Phyciodes
Species: Tharos
More Pearl Crescent Butterflies
Updated May 19 2019
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
More Northern Crescent Butterflies
Updated July 15 2016
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Speyeria
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Limenitis (also Basilarchia)
Species: Arthemis astyanax
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
More White Admiral / Red-spotted
Purple Butterflies
Purple Butterflies
Updated June 29 2013
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
The Red-spotted Purple butterfly (L. arthemis astyanax) and
the White Admiral butterfly (L. arthemis arthemis - see
above) are considered to be the same species
the White Admiral butterfly (L. arthemis arthemis - see
above) are considered to be the same species
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Euptoieta
Species: Claudia
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
More Viceroy Butterflies
Updated October 10 2020
Species: Cybele
More Great Spangled Fritillaries
Updated September 25 2017
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Nymphalis
Species: Antiopa
More Mourning Cloak Butterflies
Updated June 19 2017
One of the first butterflies seen in spring - seen as early
as mid March
as mid March
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Baltimore Checkerspot pupa - approx. 2 cm
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Euphydryas
Species: Phaeton
More Baltimore Checkerspot
Updated October 26 2017
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Viceroy Butterfly on Panicled Aster - wingspan approx. 7.5 cm - Toronto Islands - September 2012
Viceroy Butterfly larva on Willow species - approx. 4 cm - Leslie Spit - September 2018
Mourning Cloak Butterfly - wingspan approx. 7 cm - Guildwood Park - September 2010
Mourning Cloak Butterfly larva - approx. 4 cm - High Park - July 2013
Eastern Comma Butterfly (fall brood) - wingspan approx. 5 cm - High Park - October 2009
Question Mark Butterfly (summer brood) on Red Raspberry - wingspan approx. 6 cm - West Don Valley (Sunnybrook Park) - July 2012
Question Mark larva on White Elm - approx. 2 cm - East Don Parkland - June 2012
Red Admiral Butterfly - wingspan approx. 6 cm - Lower Don Valley (Crother's Woods) - July 2007
Red Admiral larva on Stinging Nettle - approx. 3 cm - Lower Don Valley (Crother's Woods) - June 2010
White Admiral Butterfly - wingspan approx. 7 cm - Lynde Shores Conservation Area (Whitby) - June 2013
Red-spotted Purple Butterfly - wingspan approx. 7 cm - Toronto Islands - August 2012
White Admiral / Red-spotted Purple Intergrade - wingspan approx. 7 cm - West Don Valley (Sunnybrook Park) - June 2012
American Lady Butterfly on New England Aster - wingspan approx. 5 cm - Leslie Spit - October 2010
Painted Lady Butterfly - wingspan approx. 5 cm - Thorncliffe Park - June 2009
Compton Tortoiseshell Butterfly on Joe-Pye Weed - wingspan approx. 6.5 cm - Lower Don Valley (Brickworks) - July 2008
Milbert's Tortoiseshell Butterfly - wingspan approx. 5 cm - High Park - April 2009
Pearl Crescent Butterfly (Type A female?) on Queen Anne's Lace - wingspan approx. 3.5 cm - Leslie Spit - September 2008
Pearl Crescent Butterfly (Type A male?) - wingspan approx. 3.5 cm - Toronto Islands - May 2012
Northern Crescent Butterfly (female)? - wingspan approx. 3.5 cm - Lower Don Valley (Crother's Woods) - May 2008
Buckeye Butterfly on Showy Tick Trefoil - wingspan approx. 6 cm - High Park - July 2010
Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly (female) - wingspan approx. 7 cm - Kortright Centre for Conservation - September 2009
Baltimore Checkerspot - wingspan to 6 cm - West Don Valley (Sunnybrook Park) - June 2012
Variegated Fritillary Butterfly - wingspan approx. 6 cm - Lower Don Valley (Crother's Woods) - September 2007
Baltimore Checkerspot larva - approx. 3 cm - West Don Valley (Sunnybrook Park) - May 2012
Baltimore Checkerspot pupa (butterfly has emerged) - approx. 2 cm - West Don Valley (Sunnybrook Park) - June 2014
Updated October 12 2017
More Question Mark Butterflies
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Polygonia
Species: Interrogationis
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Named after the white question-mark shape on
the underside of each hindwing - 2 broods
(summer and fall) - summer brood has dark
hindwings (see below)
the underside of each hindwing - 2 broods
(summer and fall) - summer brood has dark
hindwings (see below)
Question Mark Butterfly (fall brood) - wingspan approx. 6 cm - Lower Don Valley (Leaside) - August 2009
Subfamily: Limenitidinae (Admirals, Sisters)
Subfamily: Limenitidinae (Admirals, Sisters)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Limenitidinae (Admirals, Sisters)
Subfamily: Limenitidinae (Admirals, Sisters)
Subfamily: Limenitidinae (Admirals, Sisters)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Heliconiinae (Heliconians and Fritillaries)
Subfamily: Heliconiinae (Heliconians and Fritillaries)
Subfamily: Heliconiinae (Heliconians and Fritillaries)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Mourning Cloak Butterfly pupa - approx. 2.5 cm
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Nymphalis
Species: Antiopa
More Mourning Cloak Butterflies
Updated June 19 2017
One of the first butterflies seen in spring - seen as early
as mid March
as mid March
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Home > Insects > Butterflies
Eastern Comma Butterfly (summer brood) - wingspan approx. 5 cm - Lower Don Valley (Brickworks) - July 2009
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Phyciodes
Species: Cocyta
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
More Northern Crescent Butterflies
Updated July 15 2016
Very similar to Pearl Crescent (see above) - Northern
Crescent hindwings have broader, more open orange
areas compared to Pearl Crescent
Crescent hindwings have broader, more open orange
areas compared to Pearl Crescent
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Northern Crescent Butterfly - wingspan approx. 3.5 cm - Lynde Shores Conservation Area (Whitby) - August 2008
Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly (male) - wingspan approx. 7 cm - York Regional Forest (Robinson Tract) - June 2016
Also known as Hunter's Butterfly or Virginia Lady -
common foodplant of larvae is Pearly Everlasting
common foodplant of larvae is Pearly Everlasting
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Vanessa
Species: Virginiensis
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
More American Ladies
Updated October 26 2017
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Also known as Hunter's Butterfly or Virginia Lady -
common foodplant of larvae is Pearly Everlasting
common foodplant of larvae is Pearly Everlasting
American Lady larva on Pearly Everlasting - approx. 1.5 cm - Lower Don Valley (Todmorden Mills) - June 2016
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Polygonia
Species: Comma
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
More Eastern Comma Butterflies
Updated May 17 2019
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Eastern Comma Butterfly larva on White Elm - approx. 5 cm - Terra Cotta Conservation Area - August 2017
More Variegated Fritillaries
Updated October 24 2017
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Polygonia
Species: Progne
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
More Gray Comma Butterflies
Updated September 29 2018
Named after the white comma shape on the
underside of each hindwing (more "L" shaped
than the Eastern Comma - see below)
underside of each hindwing (more "L" shaped
than the Eastern Comma - see below)
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Gray Comma Butterfly - wingspan approx. 5 cm - York Regional Forest (Eldred King tract) - August 2018
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Polygonia
Species: Progne
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
More Gray Comma Butterflies
Updated September 29 2018
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Gray Comma Butterfly larva on Gooseberry - approx. 3 cm - Speyside (Halton Hills) - September 2018
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Libytheana
Species: Carinenta
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subfamily: Libytheinae (Snouts)
American Snout Butterfly - wingspan 4 to 5 cm - Leslie Spit - August 2019
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus: Junonia
Species: Coenia
More Buckeye Butterflies
Updated September 27 2020
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subfamily: Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, etc.)
Buckeye Butterfly larva on Gerardia - approx. 5 cm - Toronto Islands - September 2020
On August 22 2020 there were hundreds of Buckeye
butterflies here - On September 6 there were hundreds of
Buckeye larvae feeding on Gerardia
butterflies here - On September 6 there were hundreds of
Buckeye larvae feeding on Gerardia