Butterflies & Moths of North Dakota
Adult butterflies forage for nectar from hundreds of flowers per day. These pollinators have a long proboscis to suck nectar from deeper, skinnier blooms that other nectar-foraging insects may have trouble reaching. Butterflies like plants with “landing pads,” which are essentially blooms on the end of strong stems that can support the weight of adult butterflies; purple prairie clover, globe thistle, and echinacea provide this type of structure. The viceroy (pictured right), is one of the common butterflies of North Dakota, along with the monarch, red admiral, and painted lady.
Moths, often overlooked, are significant pollinators—particularly at night when many flowers are replenishing their nectar. Flowers pollinated by moths are usually white or light-colored and have a strong scent, such as night-blooming jasmine, evening primrose, and mock orange.
For more information on butterflies in North Dakota, check out these resources:
Common Butterflies of North Dakota
Butterflies are an important pollinator for ornamental flowers and agricultural crops. There are hundreds of species of butterflies that forage for nectar on native and cultivated plants in the prairies and gardens of North Dakota. Discover the 31 most widely-spread and recognizable butterflies in our state, and learn their coloration patterns, foraging habits, and other notable characteristics.
Skippers
Skippers are named for their quick, darting flight patterns. Their wings are usually rounded with slightly tapered forewings, with a typical coloring of brown, gray, black, and/or white. Some of the skippers’ favorite nectar sources include thistle, alfalfa, and monarda (bee balm). The four most common skippers in North Dakota are the silver-spotted, checkered, Peck’s, and long-dash.
Not pictured: Peck’s skipper (Polites peckius), long-dash skipper (Polites mystic)
Silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
Checkered skipper (Pyrgus communis)
Swallowtails
Swallowtails are some of the largest butterflies in the world, and are easily distinguished by the forked shape of their hindwings. While the majority of the species are tropical, two beautiful swallowtails can be found in North Dakota: the Canadian tiger, and black. Look for these butterflies on phlox, spirea, and sunflowers.
Canadian tiger swallowtail (Papilio canadensis)
Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
