Butterflies of Fermilab (northeastern Illinois) |
||||||
Species list1 (56 species) (footnotes and links to more info may be found below this table) Click on the species name for photos2 |
average |
typical |
comments, locations |
Ecological |
Breeding and |
Average |
Swallowtails |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
June 1999 |
an unusual stray! |
6, r |
S |
3 |
|
5 |
Aug |
|
5 |
BW |
26 |
|
2 |
Aug |
ELM-24 woods |
8 |
BW |
3 |
|
2 |
Aug |
|
6 |
BW |
26 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whites and Sulphurs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Sep 5 |
southern species |
5, r |
S |
0 |
|
30+ |
June-Aug |
|
1 |
BW |
32 |
|
20+ |
July-Oct |
|
5 |
BW |
31 |
|
Data |
combined |
with Clouded |
Sulphur |
BW |
|
|
1 |
June |
southern species |
|
S |
|
|
1 |
June-Aug |
southern species |
4 |
? |
4 |
|
1 |
Aug-Sep |
southern species |
4 |
S |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gossamer-wing Butterflies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
Aug |
pond edges |
5, R |
BW |
8 |
|
5 |
Sep 7 |
wet fields |
5, R |
BW |
2 |
|
5 |
July 1 |
ELM-20 |
9, r |
BW |
7 |
|
1 |
July 1 |
Main Ring |
9, r |
BW |
4 |
|
3 |
July 1 |
ELM-24 woods edge |
7, r |
BW |
8 |
|
1 |
July 11 |
ELM-24 woods edge |
|
|
0 |
|
15 |
Aug 17 |
|
5 |
BW |
24 |
|
3 |
Aug 10 |
|
7 |
BW |
27 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brushfooted Butterflies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
July-Sep |
|
4 |
B |
7 |
|
(2) |
Aug 2001 |
ELM-20 |
4 |
S |
1 |
|
7 |
June 27 |
Interpretive trail/woods |
5, r |
BW |
25 |
|
10 |
June 24 |
old fields with violets |
9, R |
BW |
1 |
|
1 |
June |
|
|
? a new sighting |
|
|
13 |
July-Aug |
|
5 |
BW |
29 |
|
4 |
May-Sep |
|
6 |
BW |
11 |
|
3 |
April, |
ELM-24 woods |
6 |
BW |
11 |
|
2 |
July-Aug |
ELM-24 woods |
6, r |
BW |
3 |
|
2 |
Apr-Sep |
|
6 |
BW |
18 |
|
3 |
May-June |
|
5 |
B |
16 |
|
4 |
Aug-Sep |
|
4 |
B |
6 |
|
7 |
May-Sep |
|
6 |
B |
19 |
|
5 |
July-Sep |
|
4 |
B |
13 |
|
3 |
Aug 1 |
|
6 |
BW |
16 |
|
10 |
June-Aug |
Willows at pond edges |
6, r |
BW |
18 |
|
Satyrs (subfamily Satyrinae) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
July |
ELM-24 woods |
7, r |
BW |
11 |
|
2 |
July 6 |
ELM-1, ELM-20 |
10, R |
BW |
11 |
|
1 |
June |
ELM-24 woods |
7 |
BW |
17 |
|
15 |
July |
prairies and fields |
9, r |
BW |
20 |
|
Milkweed butterflies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10+ |
Sep |
|
4 |
B |
31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Skippers (family Hesperiidae) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
June-Aug |
ELM-24 woods |
|
BW |
23 |
|
5 |
Sep |
widespread on site |
|
BW |
5 |
|
(1) |
July 2000 |
|
|
S |
1 |
|
(1) |
Aug 2001 |
|
|
? |
4 |
|
12 |
June, Aug |
|
r |
BW |
13 |
|
12 |
June 25 |
|
|
BW |
16 |
|
4 |
Aug-Sep |
|
|
B |
7 |
|
4 |
June 10 |
interpretive trail |
|
BW |
15 |
|
2 |
June 4 |
|
|
BW |
12 |
|
4 |
July 14 |
ELM-24 woods edge |
|
BW |
4 |
|
(1) |
June 2001 |
ELM-1 |
|
? |
2 |
|
(1) |
Sep 2000 |
|
|
S |
1 |
|
2 |
July |
ELM-1,ELM-20 |
r |
BW |
11 |
|
16 |
July 10 |
Indian Creek (ELM-27) |
R |
BW |
5 |
|
2 |
July 8 |
sedges near ELM-3 |
R |
BW |
6 |
|
3 |
July 13 |
|
|
BW |
7 |
Footnotes and more information:
1. Observations by Tom
Peterson. The common and scientific names given here follow the North American Butterfly Association's list of
"English Names of North American Butterflies Occuring North of
Mexico".
Have a look at a
few other Kane County and DuPage County
butterflies not yet found at Fermilab.
2. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs linked to
this page were taken by Tom Peterson. See photo
notes for more information about the photography.
3. The number of individuals of a species seen is
recorded as approximately the number of sightings per hour. Peak count is
not based on a methodical, periodic count, so it is just a rough indicator of
relative abundance. The average peak count is for the years
1999-2003. Where the peak count has been on nearly the same date each
year, a specific average date is given. When the date of peak count has
varied, a range of time is given. Sightings in parentheses indicate that
the species has only been seen on site once in the past four years; the year
and month are given. Have a look at the Table of Observational Data for
yearly peak counts and dates.
Some links to other Fermilab web sites:
Some links to other lepidoptera web sites:
For more information contact Tom Peterson (tommy@fnal.gov),
630 840 4458.
Last update: August 16, 2012