Butterflies of Houston, Texas
Swallowtails
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus): Known for its striking yellow and black striped wings. (Photo by Garrett Engelhardt)
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor): Recognizable by its iridescent blue wings and orange spots on the underside.
Monarchs and Queens
Monarch (Danaus plexippus): Famous for its long migration, the Monarch has orange wings with black and white markings.
Queens (Danaus gillipis) Queens are similar to Monarchs but have white spots on their orange wings(photo by Wayne Poorman)
Fritillaries
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae): Features bright orange wings with black spots and silver spots on the underside. (photo by Hoiman Low)
Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia): Has a more patterned appearance with orange, black, and white markings.
Skippers and Skipperlings
Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus): Large for a skipper, it has brown wings with a distinctive white spot on the hind wings.
Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris) (Photo by Hoiman Low)
Sulphurs and Whites
Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae): Bright yellow with a slight greenish tint, often seen near cassia plants. (Photo by Wayne Poorman)
Brush-footed Butterflies
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta): Black wings with red bands and white spots near the tips.
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis): Orange, black, and white wings with an intricate pattern of spots and lines. (Photo by Lauren Simpson)
Hairstreaks and Blues
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus): Gray with orange and black spots near the tail.Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus) Photo by Lynn Trenta
For more information on butterflies of Texas you can check out these websites:
Many butterflies only lay their eggs on the plants that their caterpillars need for food. These plants are called host plants. Some caterpillars only eat particular plants and others can eat a variety of plants. Go to this webpage to see butterflies and their host plants. https://txmg.org/fbmg/files/2020/03/Native-Plants-for-Attracting-Butterflies-in-SE-Texas-Native-Plant-Society-of-TX.pdf
Below are some host plants that you might find in our native plant garden.
Host plant for the friitillary butterflies
Host plant for the buckeye butterflies
Host plant for sulphurs
Aquatic and other milkweeds are host plant for the Monarch and Queen butterflies
Host plant for the black swallowtail
Host plant for skippers
Host plant for the cloudless sulphur
Nectar Plants are plants that the adult butterflies need to feed on and some you can find in our garden.
- Sunflowers
- Coneflowers
- Lantana
- Blue Mist flower
- Frostweed
- Red Salvia
For a more complete list of butterfly host and nectar plants go to : https://www.houstonnativebees.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/BEST-NABA-plants-butterflies.pdf
How to Make a Butterfly Puddler
Butterfly puddlers provide essential minerals and moisture to butterflies. Here’s how to make one:
Materials:
- Shallow dish or birdbath
- Sand or soil
- Water
- Flat stones
Instructions:
- Choose a location: Place the dish in a sunny spot in your garden.
- Fill with sand/soil: Add a layer of sand or soil to the dish.
- Add water: Pour water over the sand/soil to moisten it. The sand should be damp but not waterlogged.
- Place stones: Add flat stones to the dish to provide landing spots for butterflies.
- Maintain: Keep the sand moist and replenish the water as needed.
- Keep the puddler clean: Check on a regular basis and clean as needed.
Additional Tips:
- Adding a pinch of salt or a crushed mineral supplement to the water can provide extra nutrients for the butterflies.
- Ensure the puddler is in a safe location, away from predators and strong winds.
Creating a butterfly puddler not only supports pollinators but also adds an attractive feature to your garden.
Observing Butterflies
To observe these butterflies, consider visiting local parks, nature reserves, and gardens, particularly those with abundant flowering plants. Planting native nectar plants can also attract these butterflies to your garden.
If you’re interested in learning more or identifying specific butterflies, resources like field guides or apps dedicated to butterflies can be very helpful. Happy butterfly watching!