After I did 101 butterflies on Crowley's Ridge I realized there were only another 25 or so species of butterflies in Arkansas that could be seen regularly. So here, as I get pictures, I'll try to fill in some of the other species in the state. This first is the Olympia Marble, a very attractive little Pierid that occurs in oak and pine barrens. This one was in Lake Catherine State Park in early spring.
When they first eclose, they have a faint pinkish blush, which soon disappears.
At the same time and place we found Silvery Blues.
We have found the Silvery Blue in mixed oak and pine forests in the Ouachitas.
Silvery Blue Sometimes they occur in good numbers hill-topping along forest service roads in the Ouachita National Forest.
Silvery Blue
I believe this is the fairly rare and very tricky to identify Hickory Hairstreak. The difficulty is that this species is very similar to the common Banded Hairstreak, and the Banded is so variable that different ones might have some characters of the Hickory. (The next picture here is of a "typical" Banded, so you can go back and forth comparing features.) Note first that the blue lunule at the end of the hind wing extends noticeably forward (towards the base of the wing) from the red and black spot, and second that the black at the base of that spot takes up noticeably more space than the red. Then notice that the dark squares that make up the bands on the fore and hind wings are strongly outlined, top and bottom, with white. Finally note the two squares together in the middle of the hind wing: just forward of them on the hind wing is a square by itself, which is approximately in a line with them. Now look at the next picture
On this Banded Hairstreak the (not very) blue lunule does NOT extend forward of the red and black spot, and the black at the base of the red does NOT take up noticeably more space than the red. On many Banded, the dark bands only have a white outline on the outer side; even on this strongly marked individual, the inner white is thinner. Finally, the two squares together in the middle of the hind wing are not at all aligned with the square to the left of them.
Two species of metalmark are found in Arkansas. The most common (which in fact is not very common) is this one, the Northern Metalmark, which occurs in isolated colonies in the Ozarks and Ouachitas.
This is the underside of the Northern Metalmark.
This smaller (about the size of Hayhurst's Scallopwing), brighter metalmark is the much scarcer Swamp Metalmark, found in damp areas in association with the two or three species of thistles that the larvae feed on.
The underside of the Swamp Metalmark.
The two species can be tricky to separate. Note on this Northern Metalmark the two silver lines curve around the hind wing, but end just before the end (closest to the tip of the abdomen).
Now look at the two silvery lines on the Swamp Metalmark. They curve around and continue clear to the end.
This is the female of the Diana Fritillary, a large very handsome butterfly which, luckily, is still fairly common in pine forests and wetlands in central and western parts of Arkansas
The male is quite different, without the panels of metallic blue.
The male Diana Fritillary from the underside.
The Baltimore Checkerspot, a very handsome butterfly recently rediscovered in Arkansas in Searcy County.
The Baltimore Checkerspot from underneath.
The Golden-banded Skipper, the size and shape of a Silver-spotted Skipper, can be found in wet areas with hog peanuts, the larval food plant. It's always special to find one.
It's also special to find the Dreamy Duskywing, the scarcer cousin of the Sleepy Duskywing. It is readily separable from the Sleepy by the prominent silver spot just inside the chain marking. Also, it comes out two or three weeks later in the spring. This one is the male.
This is the female Dreamy Duskywing.
The Dreamy Duskywing is noted for its especially long palps.
The Mottled Duskywing can be recognized by its heavy marking, especially on the hind wings, and generally by at least a few spots of blue-gray near the outer edges of the forewing.
Note especially, on the Mottled Duskywing, the strong upper curving line on the hind wing.
Additionally there is a white outline to the back half of the eyes, and the cell-end spot is generally missing.
The Swarthy Skipper is a plain dull orange skipper with noticeably paler wing veins
Leonard's Skipper is unmistakable with its dark brown wings and strong markings.
They can't resist liatris
Or asters.
Leonard's Skipper, female
Leonard's Skipper, male
The Cobweb Skipper is often found together with the Dusted Skipper, as they both require bluestem grass for their caterpillars. The Cobweb Skippers found in Arkansas are more lightly marked than those shown in the field guides. Look for the white outline on the forewing (barely showing here above the patch of orange).
Meske's Skipper, something of a rarity, is found in a few isolated colonies in the state. I found this one in Felsenthal NWR. Note the bright yellow-orange underside, dark fringes and two subapical pale spots on forewing.
This female Meske's Skipper was in the same area. Note the two-tone antennal clubs.
Byssus Skipper. The broad black border on the upper forewing is visible from underneath. Also, on this male, the cell-end bar. There is often a pale patch on mid hind wing.
Byssus Skipper, male.
Byssus Skipper, male, with Little Glassywing.
Byssus Skipper, male, from above.
The Hobomok Skipper is a close relative of the Zabulon Skipper, and with a similar pattern: The basal third of the wings brown, the middle third yellow, the apical third brown. Unlike the Zabulon, the Hobomok does not have the enclosed circle of yellow within the basal third.
Like the Zabulon, the Hobomok Skipper is usually found near water.
Hobomok Skipper, male.
Again like the Zabulon Skipper, the female Hobomok is totally unlike the male (and rather like the Zabulon female, except it does not have the white outline to the hind wing).
Linda's Roadside-Skipper differs from the Common Roadside-Skipper in having the entire hind wing covered with frosting (not just the apical half, as with the Common). Also on the Linda's, the subapical white spots on the forewing do not make quite as bold a triangle.
Linda's Roadside-Skipper.
Linda's has a panel of rich brown on the underside of the forewing.
Bell's Roadside-Skipper is generally quite black, with a few faint pale spots on the underside
This Bell's Roadside-Skipper is not as black as usual. You can see clearly on this one the pattern of two spots along the leading edge of the hind wing, and then a post-median zigzag line of spots
Bell's Roadside-Skipper.
Bell's Roadside-Skipper
The Brazilian Skipper is a long-winged skipper like the Ocola, but with three square boxes in stair-step pattern on the hind wing. They occur in temporary colonies in beds of Thalia in roadside ditches. If you locate a bed of Thalia, it is always worth checking. Our local colony in NE Arkansas was wiped out when the Thalia bed was replaced by a highway, so this picture is actually one I took in Texas.
