Duke Forest butterflies >> Flight times
Different species of butterflies are found at different times of the year. Some butterflies complete their life cycles multiple times in a single year, having several broods. Adults of these species (Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, for example) can be found from spring into fall as one brood blends into another.
Other species may have only one (e.g., Banded Hairstreak) or two (e.g., Red-banded Hairstreak) broods per year and, therefore, will be found only during specific times of the year. This checklist shows these flight times for all species found in the Duke Forest. This information can help you distinguish between two confusing species if their flight times differ (e.g., Juvenal's and Horace's Duskywings).
Warm winter days
While most butterfly species spend the winter as eggs, caterpillars, or chrysalises, a few butterflies actually overwinter as adults, hibernating under loose tree bark until warm sunny days appear. On such days you may take a stroll in the Forest and look for species like American Snout, Mourning Cloak and the anglewings (Eastern Comma and Question Mark).
Flight chart
For a downloadable chart showing flight times for Duke Forest butterflies, click on the the image below.
A table listing the earliest and latest of the season sightings for each species of butterfly in Duke Forest can be found in the species list section.
