Quiz: Which North Carolina Butterfly Are You?

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail can be found from the Mississippi River to the Great Plains, and is the North Carolina state butterfly. These butterflies take nectar from a variety of native and exotic plants. While mostly solitary, males can be found “puddling” in moist soil where they drink water with beneficial sodium ions and amino acids. Young caterpillars also exhibit impressive mimicry as a form of self-protection.

The Orange Sulphur butterfly is common in the North Carolina Piedmont and mountains, and is also one of the most widespread butterfly species in North America. Adults feed on nectar from many flowers, including goldenrod, milkweed and dandelion. They inhabit fields and prairies, especially alfalfa and clover fields, for which they’ve earned the nickname the Alfalfa Butterfly. Unfortunately, they are considered an agricultural pest for the damage they cause to these fields.

The Red-Spotted Purple butterfly is most common in wooded, suburban areas. This butterfly uses mimicry throughout its life cycle to avoid predation. Caterpillars resemble bird droppings and adults mimic the poisonous Pipe Vine Swallowtail’s appearance. While they occasionally take nectar from flowers, the Red-Spotted Purple prefers to feed on tree sap, mud and fermenting fruit.

The Saint Francis Satyr is a rare butterfly species found only at Ft. Bragg military base in the sand hills of North Carolina. Their primary habitat is open, wet meadows, maintained by natural fires and beaver activity. Beaver population decline, damming and over-collection have all contributed to the endangered status of this species. In association with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ft. Bragg has developed a research and monitoring program to aid in recovery.

The Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly can be found in most of Eastern North America, as well as in the Great Plains of the United States. Habitats include fields, agricultural edges and waste lots. Adults are known to feed on nectar from 30 species of wildflowers, including the Low-Bush Blueberry, asters and clovers. The species has three flights, all occurring between mid-May and late September.