Utah Lepidopterists' Society

Founded 6 Nov 1976

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Utah Habitats for Butterflies and Moths

Wasatch Valley Riparian

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

The Provo River.

Riparian is defined as a watercourse. Many of the Wasatch Front's rivers flow from its canyons into either into the Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake or end up joining the Jordan River or other valley floor canals. These rivers include, amongst others, the Jordan River, Mill Creek, Cottonwood, City Creek, American Fork River, Provo River, Hobble Creek, and the Spanish Fork River.

The habitat along many of these rivers are filled with willows, cottonwoods, elms, and green ash. These riparian courses are also inviting to several species of butterflies and moths that use these and other riparian plants as larval and nectaring host plants.

Specific Habitat Locations:

Provo River Parkway

Paul Ream Wilderness Park

Swallowtails (Family Papilionidae)

Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus rutulus)

Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata pusillus)

Brush-footed Butterflies (Family Nymphalidae)

Thistle Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta mylitta); Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui); West Coast Lady (Vanessa carye annabella); Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta rubria)
Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus satyrus): Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis milberti furcillata)
Viceroy (Limenitis archippus lahontani): Weidemeyer's Admiral (Limenitis weidemeyeri latifascia)

Gossamer-wing Butterflies (Family Lycaenidae)

Purplish Copper (Lycaena dorcas helloides)
Tailed Copper (Lycaena arota schellbachi): Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus franki)
Sylvan Hairstreak (Satyrium sylvinus putnami): Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exile); Reakirt's Blue (Hemiargus isola alce); Melissa Blue (Plebejus melissa melissa)

Milkweed Butterflies (Family Danaidae)

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
Queen (Danaus gilippus thersippus): Satyrs (Family Satyridae)
Common Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala utahensis)
Coenonympha tullia ampelos (common ringlet)