White-stem Milkweed (Asclepias albicans) is a shrubby perennial that is native to southern California and Arizona in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. This milkweed is a host plant to two butterflies and two moths and a nectar plant to others. It can be grow to be 3-9 feet… Read More »A Comprehensive Guide to White-stem Milkweed (Asclepias albicans)
Marsh Blue Violet (Viola cucullata) is native to the eastern United States and Canada. It is a host to fritillaries and a number of bees. Its flowers range from white, lavender, or blue-violet in color. They can be found growing in moist open areas such as meadows, water edges, and fields.
The American Field Pansy (Viola bicolor) is a herbaceous perennial that is found mostly in the eastern United States and southern Canada with scattered locations in the west. This plant is a host plant to fritillaries and a number of bees. These violets are stemmed and are annual.… Read More »A Comprehensive Guide to American Field Pansy (Viola bicolor)
Sand Violet (Viola affinis) is a herbaceous perennial that is found from the mid-west to the eastern United States and adjacent southern Canada. This plant is a host plant to fritillaries and a number of bees. These violets are acaulescent (lack a stem) and have light purple flowers… Read More »Sand Violet (Viola affinis)
The Pepper and Salt Skipper is found generally in the eastern United States and very southern parts of Canada. The host plants for this species are species of grasses, including Indian Wild Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium), bluegrass (Poa pratensis), and Indian grass (Sorghastrum spp.). This skipper flies from April to July.
The Atlantis Fritillary is found generally in the northern tier of the United States and in southern Canada. The host plants for this species are members of the Viola genus, but it prefers the Canada violet (Viola canadensis) in particular. It is found flying from June to September depending on location.
Southern Woodland Violet (Viola hirsutula) is a herbaceous perennial that is found in the eastern United States, except for New York and New England. This plant is a host plant to fritillaries and a number of bees. These plants have medium purple to lavender-purple flowers and distinctive white… Read More »A Comprehensive Guide to Southern Woodland Violet (Viola hirsutula)
The Great Spangled Fritillary is one of the most common and largest fritillaries and is found across most of North America except for the deep south. It is an orange/yellow-brown butterfly that uses plants of the genus Viola (Violets), especially common blue violet (Viola sororia) and round-leaf violet (Viola rotundifolia) as a host.
Indian Wood Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) is a herbaceous perennial that is found in the eastern part of the southwest, southern mid-west and eastern United States, except New England. This plant is a host plant to six species of butterflies, most of them skippers. This grass species is often found in floodplains that get partial shade and have moist soil conditions. The green flowers come out in the late summer to fall.
Introduction to the Tuliptree Silk Moth The range of the Tuliptree Silk Moth is centered on the eastern United States and as the name suggests, uses tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) as a host. This moth has 1 (north) -2 (south) broods from roughly March to August. The life of… Read More »Tuliptree Silk Moth (Callosamia angulifera), a Comprehensive Guide in 7 Sections