Utah Lepidopterists' Society

Founded 6 Nov 1976

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Utah Habitats for Butterflies and Moths

Montane--Mill Fork Canyon

 

1. Wasatch Canyons

2. Wasatch Valley Riparian

3. Wasatch Valley Meadows

4. Wasatch Hilltops

5. Arctic Alpine

6. Basin & Range Province

7. Canyon Country

8. Montane

9. Utah's Dixie

Mill Fork Canyon is located just south of Hwy 31 up Huntington Canyon roughly 11 miles WNW of Huntington in Emery County.  The riparian habitat of the canyon is nestled against rugged sandstone formations and terrain.  During the month of June, some of the butterflies that can be seen in this canyon are the Pale Crescent (Phyciodes pallida barnesi,) the Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus rutulus,) Ridings' Satyr (Neominois ridingsi dionysius,) Chryxus Arctic (Oeneis chryxus,) Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia,) and the Thicket Hairstreak (Mitoura spinetorum.)

 

In the  lower portion of the canyon exists classic Neominois ridingsi dionysius habitat in association with sagebrush and grasses--including Festuca spp. which may be one of Riding's Satyr's larval hostplants. 

 

Butterfly Species Checklist For this Habitat:

Swallowtails (Family Papilionidae)       

Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus rutulus)
Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata pusillus)
          

Brush-footed Butterflies (Family Nymphalidae)

Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
Dotted Checkerspot (Poladryas arachne)
 
Northern Crescent (Phyciodes cocyta)
Field Crescent (Phyciodes pulchella camillus)
Pale Crescent (Phyciodes pallida barnesi)
Thistle Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta mylitta)
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis virginiensis)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Weidemeyer's Admiral (Limenitis weidemeyeri latifascia)
Arizona Sister (Adelpha bredowi eulalia)

Gossamer-wing Butterflies (Family Lycaenidae)

Colorado Hairstreak (Hypaurotis crysalus citima)
Thicket Hairstreak (Mitoura spinetorum)
          Juniper Hairstreak (Mitoura siva siva)
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus franki)
 
Western Tailed-Blue (Everes amyntula)
Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon echo)
Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus oro)

    Metalmarks (Family Riodinidae)

    Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo mormo)

    Milkweed Butterflies (Family Danaidae)

    Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

    Satyrs (Family Satyridae)

    Common Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia brenda)
    Great Basin Wood Nymph (Cercyonis sthenele masoni)
    Small Wood Nymph (Cercyonis oetus charon)
              Ridings' Satyr (Neominois ridingsi dionysius)
    Chryxus Arctic (Oeneis chryxus chryxus)

     

              
     

     

    Skippers (Family Hesperiidae)

    Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo burgessi)
    Rocky Mountain Duskywing (Erynnis telemachus)
    Persius Duskywing (Erynnis persius fredericki)
    Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis)
              
    Uncas Skipper (Hesperia uncas lasus)
    Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba)
    Western Branded Skipper (Hesperia colorado harpalus)
              Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides omnigena)
     

    Whites and Sulphurs (Family Pieridae)

    Pine White (Neophasia menapia menapia)
    Becker's White (Pieris beckeri)
    Checkered White (Pieris protodice)
    Western White (Pieris occidentalis)
    Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
     
    Desert Marble (Euchloe hyantis lotta)
     
    Yellow Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
    Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
     

     

     

    All images of Limenitis weidemeyeri on the ULS Info Bar courtesy Jay Cossey

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