Egg
Milkweed sap
- White.
- Irregular shapes and sizes.
- No longitudinal raised ridges.
Adults
Swallowtails
Distinguishing features:
- Large (5 to 10 cm).
- “Tails” on hindwings.
- Bright yellow wings with black markings.
Similar species:
- Canadian Tiger Swallowtail – Papilio canadensis
- Eastern Tiger Swallowtail – Papilio glaucus
- Old World Swallowtail – Papilio machaon
Coppers
Distinguishing features:
- Small (3 to 4 cm).
- Rounded wings.
- Dark spots but no visible veins on wings.
Similar species:
- American Copper –Lycaena phlaeas
- Bronze Copper – Lycaena hyllus
- Purplish copper – Lycaena helloides
Fritillaries
Distinguishing features :
- Average size (about 6 to 8 cm).
- Rounded wings.
- Wing borders sometimes dark, but no white spots like monarchs.
- Brownish-orange body.
- Wings dotted with black spots.
Similar species
- Great Spangled Fritillary – Speyeria cybele
- Aphrodite Fritillary – Speyeria aphrodite
- Atlantis Fritillary – Speyeria atlantis
- Northwestern Fritillary – Speyeria hesperis
- Variegated Fritillary – Euptoieta claudia
Other fritillaries
Distinguishing features:
- Small (about 4 to 5 cm).
- Dark wing patterns – circles, dots, splotches (but no wide black veins like monarchs).
- Brownish-orange body.
Similar species :
- Bog Fritillary – Boloria eunomia dawsonii
- Silver-bordered Fritillary – Boloria selene
- Meadow Fritillary – Boloria bellona
- Frigga Fritillary – Boloria frigga
- Freija Fritillary – Boloria freija
- Arctic Fritillary – Boloria chariclea
Checkerspots
Distinguishing features: :
- Small to average size (up to 5.5 cm).
- Under surface of wings pale with complex spot and circle patterns.
- Very wide black borders on upper surface of wings, with dark spots in the centre of the forewings.
- Brownish-orange body.
Similar species :
- Silvery Checkerspot–Chlosyne nycteis
- Harris’ Checkerspot – Chlosyne harrisii
- Gorgone Checkerspot- Chlosyne gorgone
Commas
Distinguishing species:
- Average to large size, but smaller than monarchs (about 5 to 6.5 cm).
- Irregular shape, lacy wings.
- Well-defined dark spots on upper surface of wings.
- Under surface of wings darker and duller, with indistinct markings.
- Body usually brownish-orange. Some species have a dark brown body, but never black like monarchs.
Similar species :
- Question Mark – Polygonia interrogationis
- Eastern Comma – Polygonia comma
- Satyr Comma – Polygonia satyrus
- Green Comma – Polygonia faunus
- Hoary Comma – Polygonia gracilis
- Grey Comma – Polygonia progne
Painted ladies and admirals
Distinguishing features:
- Average size (6 to 6.4 cm).
- White spots on upper surface of wings.
- Various colours and complex patterns on wings.
- No black veins on wings.
- Body orange, brownish or brown.
Similar species :
- American Painted Lady – Vanessa virginiensis
- Painted Lady – Vanessa cardui
- Red Admiral – Vanessa atalanta
- Compton Tortoiseshell – Nymphalis vaualbum
- Milbert’s Tortoiseshell – Aglais milberti
Crescents
Distinguishing features :
- Small (less than 4.5 cm).
- Rounded wings.
- Brown or orange body.
- Under surface of wings paler with less-defined patterns.
Similar species :
- Pearl Crescent – Phyciodes tharos
- Northern Crescent – Phyciodes cocyta
- Tawny Crescent – Phyciodes batesii
