Snyder Park Butterflies This is a list of butterflies photographed in Snyder Park in 2021

Zebra longwing Most common butterfly in our garden and is the state butterfly of Florida. Host: Corky-stem Passion vine

Monarch It may be the most familiar North American butterfly, and is considered an iconic pollinator species. In the fall they migrate to Florida and Mexico. Host: Milkweed

Polydamas swallowtail Also called the Gold rim swallowtail.Look for dark brown caterpillars on the host Dutchman’s Pipe vine.

Queen Like the Monarch it feeds on the milkweed plant ingesting alkaloids that make it unpalatable to birds. Host: Milkweed

Monk skipper Big eyed and dark brown Host: Various species of Palm

White peacock Nectars frequently on Spanish needle Hosts: Wild petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis), Southern frogfruit (Lippia stoechadifolia)

Gulf fritillary Look for its orange caterpillar with black bristles on the host Corky-stem passion vine

Julia Julias are fast flying and long-lived butterflies. Host: Corky-stem passion vine

Ruddy daggerwing Commonly nectars on the Jasmine. Looks dark brown when its wings are closed. Host: Strangler fig (Ficus aurea)

Cassius blue Commonly nectars on scorpion tail and shows its blue wing tops when flying. Host: leadwort (plumbago), keys blackbead, rosary pea and wild tamarind

Sulpher buterflies There are several species of bright yellow sulpher butterflies that visit our garden. Most common are the Clouded and the Orange Barred…but they look very much alike. Host: Cassia species

Barred yellow sulpher Very common in grassy areas Host: Perennial peanut (Arachis glabrata)

Dainty sulpher Also very common in grassy areas Host: Spanish needles (Bidens alba)

Giant swallowtail The largest butterfly in Florida. Host: Prickly ash, citrus, lime, herb rue, hoptree, and wild lime

Twin-spot skipper Host: Grasses

Longtailed skipper Look for its iridescent back Host: members of the Pea family including Beaked Butterfly Pea and American Wisteria Fiery skipper Host: Various grasses (Poaceae) including Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum)

Horace’s duskywing Often mistaken for a moth Host: Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)

Checkered skipper Host: Various plants in the Mallow family (Malvaceae) including Arrowleaf Sida (Sida rhombifolia) and Broomweed (Sida acuta).

Mangrove skipper Nectars on mangrove, shepherd's needle, citrus and bougainvillaea flowers. Host: Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle).

Hammock skipper Host: Jamaican dogwood (Piscidia piscipula) and karum tree (Pongamia pinnata)

Atala Host: Coontie (Zamia)

Eastern Swallowtail The caterpillar can release a foul smell if bothered. Host: Carrot, parsley, Queen Anne's lace and dill.

Buckeye There are three very similar butterflies, Common, Tropical, and Mangrove Buckeyes.Host: Snapdragon, gerardia, false foxglove, monkey flowers, plantains, ruellia

Hairstreak The Mallow and Grey Hairstreak rub their hind-wings together as an attention device. Host: Mallows and legumes

Varigated fritilary Flight is low and swift and is extremely difficult to approach. Its name means “easily scared”. Host: Passion vines