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Asclepias linearis
E-mail Mark Etheridge
© Dale Clark
The following is a list of plants which are recorded as being hostplants for butterflies found in the
Washington, DC area. For the purpose of this list, the DC Area is defined as The District of Columbia,
Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax Counties in Virginia, and Montgomery and Prince George's Counties
in Maryland. The information is gathered from various sources, and is intended to be as complete as
possible. However, new butterfly hostplants are being reported all the time, and some existing records
may later prove to be erroneous. This list includes only butterflies and plants reported as occuring in the
Washington, DC area.
I have included information for the frequency of occurrence in the Washington, DC area for the
butterflies listed. These should be used as rough guidelines. Keep in mind also that, while the flight
period for a particular butterfly may extend only into May or June, the larvae may be found much later.
Many larvae overwinter. Also, the flight periods listed are general. The butterfly may be seen flying
slightly earlier or later than the given range, and there may be periods within each range when the
butterfly is not on the wing, since it is between broods.
I have also listed the butterflies by current Scientific and Common names. Do not be surprised if the
name differs from that in your field guide. Scientific and Common names do change, and undoubtedly
many of the names on the list below will be obsolete in time.
Please also note that this list is not intended to give a complete listing of all recorded hostplants for a
given species. I have tried to include only those plants which may be expected to occur in the
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Hostplant List file://localhost/Users/drkilmer/Sites/Etheridge%20Place/Plantlist.html
Washington, DC area.
Each plant entry is followed by a list of Washington area butterfly species which are recorded as using
that plant as a hostplant for its larvae. Plant names followed by (N) or (I) indicate that that plant is a
"Native" or "Introduced" species to our area. A butterfly species listing followed by "(?)" indicates that
that species is suspected of using that plant as a hostplant, but the relationship has not been verified.
HERBACEOUS PLANTS:
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Hostplant List file://localhost/Users/drkilmer/Sites/Etheridge%20Place/Plantlist.html
Brachyelytrum erectum
Enodia anthedon - Northern Pearly Eye (June and Aug.) Rare/Uncommon
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Hostplant List file://localhost/Users/drkilmer/Sites/Etheridge%20Place/Plantlist.html
Eragrostis hypnoides
Hylephila phyleus - Fiery Skipper (Common - Aug.-Oct.)
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Hostplant List file://localhost/Users/drkilmer/Sites/Etheridge%20Place/Plantlist.html
Paspalum spp.
Wallengrenia otho - Southern Broken Dash (Rare) Charles Co., MD
Polites peckius - Peck's Skipper (E. May-Mid. June, E. July-E. Oct.) Abundant
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Hostplant List file://localhost/Users/drkilmer/Sites/Etheridge%20Place/Plantlist.html
Triodia spp.
Poanes zabulon - Zabulon Skipper (L. May-June, L. July-Sept.) Common/Abundant
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Carex lacustris
Satyrodes appalachia - Appalachian Eyed Brown (June-Mid. Aug.) Local/Common
Carex stricta
Satyrodes appalachia - Appalachian Eyed Brown (June-Mid. Aug.) Local/Common
Carex trichocarpa
Euphyes bimacula - Two-Spotted Skipper (June) Local/Rare
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Hostplant List file://localhost/Users/drkilmer/Sites/Etheridge%20Place/Plantlist.html
Parietaria pensylvanica
Vanessa atalanta - Red Admiral (April-Oct.) Common
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Hostplant List file://localhost/Users/drkilmer/Sites/Etheridge%20Place/Plantlist.html
Anthocharis midea - Falcate Orange-tip (L. March-Mid. May) Local/Common (Oviposition - larvae may not survive)
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Sisymbrium spp.
Anthocharis midea - Falcate Orange-tip (L. March-Mid. May) Local/Common
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Boloria selene - Silver-bordered Fritillary (L. June-L. July) No Records Since Late 1970's
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Hostplant List file://localhost/Users/drkilmer/Sites/Etheridge%20Place/Plantlist.html
Lupinus spp.
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Rhynchosia tomentosa
Thorybes bathyllus - Southern Cloudywing (June-Aug.) Common
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Hostplant List file://localhost/Users/drkilmer/Sites/Etheridge%20Place/Plantlist.html
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Speyeria idalia - Regal Fritillary (Historic - one recent sighting in Prince George's County, Maryland - June 1993)
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Hostplant List file://localhost/Users/drkilmer/Sites/Etheridge%20Place/Plantlist.html
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Hostplant List file://localhost/Users/drkilmer/Sites/Etheridge%20Place/Plantlist.html
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Hostplant List file://localhost/Users/drkilmer/Sites/Etheridge%20Place/Plantlist.html
Aureolaria flava
Euphydryas phaeton - Baltimore (E. June-Mid July) Rare/Uncommon
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Hostplant List file://localhost/Users/drkilmer/Sites/Etheridge%20Place/Plantlist.html
Cnicus benedictus
Vanessa cardui - Painted Lady (May-Oct.) Immigrant
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WOODY PLANTS:
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BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Cromartie, William J. and Dale F. Sweitzer (1993), "Biology of the Rare Skipper,
Probleme bulenta (Hesperiidae), in Southern New Jersey", Journal of the
Lepidopterist's Society, Vol.47, No.2, 16 June 1993.
Harvill, A.M., Jr., et al (1992), ATLAS OF THE VIRGINIA FLORA III, Virginia
Botanical Associates, Route 1, Box 63, Burkeville, Virginia, 23922.
Opler, Paul A. and George O. Krizek (1984) BUTTERFLIES EAST OF THE GREAT
PLAINS, The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.
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