There are over 200 species of butterflies and skippers that have been identified in Nebraska. Over the past 30+ years Neil has seen about 125 of them. In 2020, he set out to see as many species as possible in a single year. His grand total was 102. This page documents his 2020 Big Year checklist.
Neil’s 2020 count: 102
Scientific Name | Common Name | Neil’s Sighting Date & Location |
Family: HESPERIIDAE | ||
Epargyreus clarus | Silver Spotted Skipper | 4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County |
Achalarus lyciades | Hoary Edge | |
Thorybes bathyllus | Southern Cloudywing | |
Thorybes pylades | Northern Cloudywing | 6/1/20, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Brown County |
Staphylus hayhurstii | Hayhurst’s Scallopwing | |
Grais stigmatica | Hermit | |
Erynnis brizo | Sleepy Duskywing | |
Erynnis juvenalis | Juvenal’s Duskywing | |
Erynnis horatius | Horace’s Duskywing | |
Erynnis martialis | Mottled Duskywing | |
Erynnis funeralis | Funereal Duskywing | |
Erynnis baptisiae | Wild Indigo Duskywing | 5/5/20, Harlan County Reservoir – Cedar Point area, Harlan County |
Erynnis afranius | Afranius Duskywing | 5/26/20 Monroe Canyon – Gilbert-Baker SWMA, Sioux County |
Erynnis persius | Persius Duskywing | |
Pyrgus scriptura | Small Checkered-Skipper | |
Pyrgus communis | Common Checkered-Skipper | 4/23/20, Sandy Channel SRA, Buffalo County |
Pholisora catullus | Common Sootywing | 5/19/20, Box Elder SWMA, Lincoln County |
Ancyloxypha numitor | Least Skipper | 6/6/20, Loch Linda SWMA, Hall County |
Oarisma garita | Garita Skipperling | |
Thymelicus lineola | European Skipper | |
Hylephila phyleus | Fiery Skipper | 8/24/20 Mahoney State Park, Cass County |
Hesperia uncas | Uncas Skipper | 6/23/20 2.5 mi south of I-80 mm 1, Kimball County |
Hesperia juba | Juba Skipper | |
Hesperia colorado | Western Branded Skipper | 8/22/20, Ash Hollow SHP, Garden County |
Hesperia ottoe | Ottoe Skipper | 7/15/20, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Keya Paha /County |
Hesperia leonardus | Leonard’s Skipper | 8/22/20, Ash Hollow SHP, Garden County |
Hesperia pahaska | Pahaska Skipper | 6//23/20, 2.5 mi south of I-80 mm 1, . Kimball County |
Hesperia metea | Cobweb Skipper | |
Hesperia viridis | Green Skipper | |
Hesperia attalus | Dotted Skipper | |
Polites rhesus | Rhesus Skipper | |
Polites carus | Carus Skipper | |
Polites peckius | Peck’s Skipper | 6/6/20, TNC Speidell Tract, Hall County |
Polites sabuleti | Sandhills Skipper | |
Polites themistocles | Tawny-edged Skipper | 6/1/20, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Brown County |
Polites origenes | Crossline Skipper | 7/5/20, Box Elder SWMA, Lincoln County |
Polites mystic | Long Dash | 6/21/20, Wildcat Hills SRA, Scotts Bluff County |
Wallengrenia egeremet | Northern Broken-Dash | 7/15/20, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Brown County |
Pompeis verna | Little Glassywing | |
Atalopedes campestris | Sachem | 6/7/20, Elm Creek, Buffalo County |
Atrytone arogos | Arogos Skipper | 7/4/20, Macon Lakes Waterfowl Production Area, Franklin County |
Anatrytone logan | Delaware Skipper | 6/18/20, Kinter’s Ford SWMA, Richardson County |
Problema byssus | Byssus Skipper | 7/1/20, Kinter’s Ford SWMA, Richardson County |
Poanes massasoit | Mulberry Wing | 7/8/20, Beaver Creek Marsh, Boone County |
Poanes hobomok | Hobomok Skipper | 5/19/20, Box Elder SWMA, Lincoln County |
Poanes zabulon | Zabulon Skipper | |
Poanes taxiles | Taxiles Skipper | 6/22/20 Soldier Creek Wilderness, Sioux County |
Poanes viator | Broad-winged Skipper | 7/8/20, Beaver Creek Marsh, Boone County |
Euphyes dion | Dion Skipper | |
Euphyes conspicuous | Black Dash | |
Euphyes bimacula | Two-spotted Skipper | |
Euphyes vestris | Dun Skipper | 6/18/20, Four Mile Creek SWMA, Richardson County |
Atrytonopsis hianna | Dusted Skipper | 5/19/20, Box Elder SWMA, Lincoln County |
Amblyscirtes simius | Simius Roadside Skipper | |
Amblyscirtes oslari | Oslar’s Roadside Skipper | |
Amblyscirtes nysa | Nysa Roadside Skipper | |
Amblyscirtes vialis | Roadside Skipper | 4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County |
Lerodea eufala | Eufala Skipper | |
Calpodes ethlius | Brazilian Skipper | |
Megathymus yuccae | Yucca Giant Skipper | 4/11/20, Box Elder WMA, Lincoln County |
Megathymus streckeri | Strecker’s Giant Skipper | |
Family: PAPILIONIDAE | ||
Parnassius phoebus | Phoebus’ Parnassian | |
Battus philenor | Pipe-vine Swallowtail | |
Eurytides marcellus | Zebra Swallowtail | 4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County |
Papilio polyxenes | Black Swallowtail | 5/3/20, Jeffrey Canyon WMA, Lincoln County |
Papilio machaon | Baird’s Swallowtail | |
Papilio zelicaon | Anise Swallowtail | 5/26/20, Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux County |
Papilio indra | Indra Swallowtail | 7/22/20, Pants Butter area, Sioux County |
Papilio cresphontes | Giant Swallowtail | 6/1/20, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Brown County |
Papilio glaucus | Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | 4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County |
Papilio rutulus | Western Tiger Swallowtail | |
Papilio multicaudata | Two-tailed Swallowtail | 6/21/20, Wildcat Hills SRA, Scotts Bluff County |
Papilio troilus | Spicebush Swallowtail | |
Papilio Palamedes | Palamedes Swallowtail | |
Family: PIERIDAE | ||
Neophasia menapia | Pine White | |
Appias drusilla | Florida White | |
Pontia sisymbrii | California White | |
Pontia protodice | Checkered White | 5/26/20, Monroe Canyon, Gilbert-Baker SWMA, Sioux County |
Pontia occidentalis | Western White | |
Pieris napi | Mustard White | |
Pieris rapae | Cabbage Butterfly | 5/20/20, in Elm Creek, Buffalo County |
Euchloe ausonides | Large Marble | |
Euchloe olympia | Olympia Marblewing | 4/11/20, Box Elder WMA, Lincoln County |
Anthocharis midea | Falcate Orangetip | |
Colias philodice | Clouded Sulphur | 5/3/20, Box Elder WMA, Lincoln County |
Colias eurytheme | Alfalfa Butterfly | 4/23/20, Sandy Channel SRA, Buffalo County |
Colias alexandra | Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur | |
Zerene cesonia | Southern Dogface | |
Anteos clorinde | White Angled Sulphur | |
Anteos maerula | Yellow Brimstone | |
Phoebis sennae | Cloudless Sulphur | 7/19/20, Elm Creek, Buffalo County |
Phoebis philea | Orange-barred Sulphur | |
Phoebis agarithe | Large Orange Sulphur | |
Kricogonia lyside | Lyside | |
Aphrissa statira | Statira Sulfur | |
Eurema daira | Barred Yellow | |
Eurema mexicana | Mexican Sulphur | |
Pyrisitia proterpia | Tailed Orange | |
Pyrisitia lisa | Little Yellow | 6/1/20, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Brown County |
Pyrisitia nise | Mimosa Sulphur | |
Abaeis nicippe | Sleepy Orange | 6/2/20, Elm Creek, Buffalo County |
Nathalis iole | Dainty Sulphur | 6/12/20, Ash Hollow SHP, Garden County |
Family: LYCAENIDAE | ||
Feniseca tarquinius | Harvester | |
Lycaena phlaeas | Little Copper | 7/8/20, Cedar River Headwaters, Garfield County |
Lycaena dione | Dione Copper | 6/18/20, Kinter’s Ford SWMA, Richardson County |
Lycaena hyllus | Bronze Copper | 6/23/20, Road 46, 1 mile south of Lewellen, Garden County |
Lycaena rubida | Ruddy Copper | 6/12/20, road from Oshkosh to Crescent Lake, Garden County |
Lycaena helloides | Purplish Copper | 7/8/20, Cedar River Headwaters, Garfield County |
Satyrium titus | Coral Hairstreak | 6/18/20, Prairie Knoll SWMA, Pawnee County |
Satyrium acadicum | Acadian Hairstreak | 6/27/20, Victoria Springs Road @ Middle Loup River, Custer County |
Satyrium edwardsii | Edwards’ Hairstreak | |
Satyrium calanus | Banded Hairstreak | 6/18/20, Four Mile Creek SWMA, Richardson County |
Satyrium caryaevorum | Hickory Hairstreak | 6/18/20, Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy County |
Satyrium liparops | Striped Hairstreak | |
Ministrymon leda | Leda Hairstreak | |
Calycopis cecrops | Red-banded Hairstreak | |
Callophrys affinis apama | Apama Hairstreak | 6/23/20, roadside 2 miles south of I-80 mm1, Kimball County |
Callophrys g. gryneus | Olive Hairstreak | 5/5/20, Harlan County Reservoir – Cedar Point area, Harlan County |
Callophrys. g. siva | Juniper Hairstreak | |
Callophrys henrici | Henry’s Elfin | 4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County |
Callophrys niphon | Eastern Pine Elfin | |
Callophrys eryphon | Western Pine Elfin | |
Strymon melinus | Gray Hairstreak | 5/3/20, Box Elder WMA, Lincoln County |
Parrhasius m-album | White-M Hairstreak | |
Brephidium exilis | Pygmy Blue | |
Leptotes marina | Marine Blue | 6/12/20, Ash Hollow SHP, Garden County |
Echinargus isola | Reakirt’s Blue | 6/7/20, Elm Creek, Buffalo County |
Cupido comyntas | Eastern Tailed Blue | 4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County |
Cupido amyntula | Western Tailed Blue | |
Celastrina neglecta | Summer Azure | 6/6/20, TNC Speidell Tract, Hall County |
Celastrina ladon | Spring Azure | 4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County |
Euphilotes enoptes | Dotted Blue | |
Euphilotes rita | Rita Blue | |
Glaucopsyche piasus | Arrowhead Blue | 5/26/20, Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux County |
Glaucopsyche lygdamus | Silvery Blue | 5/3/20, Box Elder WMA, Lincoln County |
Plebejus melissa | Melissa Blue | 5/26/20, Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux County |
Plebejus saepiolus | Greenish Blue | |
Plebejus icarioides | Icarioides Blue | 6/22/20 Gilbert-Baker SWMA, Sioux County |
Plebejus shasta | Shasta Blue | |
Plebejus lupini | Lupine Blue | |
Family: NYMPHALIDAE | ||
Libytheana carinenta | Snout Butterfly | 7/1/20, Four Mile Creek SWMA, Richardson County |
Agraulis vanillae | Gulf Fritillary | |
Dryas iulia | Julia | |
Heliconius charithonia | Zebra Longwing | |
Euptoieta claudia | Variegated Fritillary | 5/3/20, Box Elder WMA, Lincoln County |
Speyeria cybele | Great Spangled Fritillary | 6/18/20, Four Mile Creek SWMA, Richardson County |
Speyeria aphrodite | Aphrodite Fritillary | 6/21/20, Wildcat Hills SRA, Scotts Bluff County |
Speyeria idalia | Regal Fritillary | 6/18/20, Prairie Knoll SWMA, Pawnee County |
Speyeria edwardsii | Edwards’ Fritillary | 6/21/20, Wildcat Hills SRA, Scotts Bluff County |
Speyeria coronis | Coronis Fritillary | |
Speyeria zerene | Zerene Fritillary | |
Speyeria callippe | Callippe Fritillary | |
Speyeria atlantis | Atlantis Fritillary | |
Speyeria mormonia | Mormon Fritillary | |
Boloria selene | Silver-bordered Fritillary | 7/3/20, 1.75 mi n, 0.5 mi e of Worms, Merrick County |
Boloria bellona | Meadow Fritillary | |
Boloria titania | Titania Fritillary | |
Poladryas arachne | Arachne Checkerspot | |
Chlosyne fulvia | Fulvia Checkerspot | |
Chlosyne lacinia | Bordered Patch | |
Chlosyne gorgone | Gorgone Checkerspot | 5/3/20, Jeffrey Canyon WMA, Lincoln County |
Chlosyne nycteis | Silvery Checkerspot | 6/18/20, Kinter’s Ford SWMA, Richardson County |
Chlosyne acastus | Acastus Checkerspot | |
Anthanassa texana | Texan Crescent | |
Phyciodes.vesta | Vesta Crescent | |
Phyciodes phaon | Phaon Crescent | |
Phyciodes tharos | Pearl Crescent | 5/5/20, Harlan County Reservoir – Cedar Point area, Harlan County |
Phyciodes cocyta | Northern Crescent | |
Phyciodes batesii | Tawny Crescent | |
Phyciodes. pratensis | Field Crescent | |
Phyciodes pictus | Painted Crescent | |
Phyciodes pallida | Pale Crescent | |
Phyciodes mylitta | Mylitta Crescent | |
Euphydryas anicia | Anicia Checkerspot | 5/26/20, Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux County |
Euphydryas phaeton | Baltimore | |
Polygonia interrogationis | Question Mark | 6/2/20, Elm Creek, Buffalo County |
Polygonia comma | Eastern Comma | 7/1/20, Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy County |
Polygonia satyrus | Satyr Anglewing | |
Polygonia zephyrus | Zephyr | |
Polygonia progne | Gray Comma | 7/1/20, Table Rock SWMA, Pawnee County |
Nymphalis l-album | Compton Tortoise Shell | |
Nymphalis antiopa | Mourning Cloak | 6/12/20, Crescent Lake SWMA, Garden County |
Aglais milberti | Milbert’s Tortoise Shell | 6/23/20, Road 46, 1 mile south of Lewellen, Garden County |
Vanessa virginiensis | American Painted Lady | 5/5/20, Harlan County Reservoir – Cedar Point area, Harlan County |
Vanessa carduii | Painted Lady | 4/25/20, Sandy Channel SRA, Buffalo County |
Vanessa annabella | West Coast Lady | |
Vanessa atalanta | Red Admiral | 4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County |
Junonia coenia | Buckeye | 6/12/20, Road south of Lewellen, Garden County |
Anartia jatrophae | White Peacock | |
Limenitis arthemis Astyanax | Red-spotted Purple | 6/18/20, Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy County |
Limenitis archippus | Viceroy | 6/12/20, Crescent Lake SWMA, Garden County |
Limenitis weidemeyerii | Weidemeyer’s Admiral | 6/21/20, Wildcat Hills SRA, Scotts Bluff County |
Mestra amymone | Amymone | |
Marpesia petreus | Ruddy Dagger Wing | |
Anaea aidea | Tropical Leaf Wing | |
Anaea andria | Goatweed Butterfly | 4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County |
Asterocampa celtis | Hackberry Butterfly | 6/18/20, Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy County |
Asterocampa clyton | Tawny Emperor | 7/1/20, Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy County |
Lethe anthedon | Northern Pearly Eye | 7/1/20, Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy County |
Lethe eurydice | Eyed Brown | 6/27/20, Victoria Springs Creek @ Milburn Road, Custer County |
Megisto cymela | Little Wood Satyr | 7/15/20, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Brown County |
Coenonympha tullia inornata | Inornate Ringlet | |
Coenonympha t. ochracea | Ochre Ringlet | 5/26/20, Monroe Canyon, Gilbert-Baker SWMA, Sioux County |
Cercyonis pegala | Common Wood Nymph | 6/27/20, Victoria Springs Creek @ Milburn Road, Custer County |
Cercyonis meadii | Mead’s Wood Nymph | |
Cercyonis oetus | Dark Wood Nymph | |
Neominois ridingsii | Ridings’ Satyr | |
Oeneis uhleri | Varuna Arctic | 5/26/20, Monroe Canyon, Gilbert-Baker SWMA, Sioux County |
Danaus plexippus | Monarch | 5/20/20, in Elm Creek, Buffalo County |
Danaus gilippus | Queen | 6/23/20, 2 miles south of Oshkosh, Garden County |