Neil’s Big Year List

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 NameCommon NameNeil’s Sighting Date & Location
Family: HESPERIIDAE
Epargyreus clarus  Silver Spotted Skipper4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County
Achalarus lyciades  Hoary Edge
Thorybes bathyllus  Southern Cloudywing
Thorybes pylades  Northern Cloudywing6/1/20, 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 Duskywing5/5/20, Harlan County Reservoir – Cedar Point area, Harlan County
Erynnis afranius  Afranius Duskywing5/26/20 Monroe Canyon – Gilbert-Baker SWMA, Sioux County
Erynnis persius  Persius Duskywing
Pyrgus scriptura  Small Checkered-Skipper
Pyrgus communis  Common Checkered-Skipper4/23/20, Sandy Channel SRA, Buffalo County
Pholisora catullus  Common Sootywing5/19/20, Box Elder SWMA, Lincoln County
Ancyloxypha numitor  Least Skipper6/6/20, Loch Linda SWMA, Hall County
Oarisma garita  Garita Skipperling
Thymelicus lineola  European Skipper
Hylephila phyleus  Fiery Skipper8/24/20 Mahoney State Park, Cass County
Hesperia uncas  Uncas Skipper6/23/20 2.5 mi south of I-80 mm 1, Kimball County
Hesperia juba  Juba Skipper
Hesperia colorado  Western Branded Skipper8/22/20, Ash Hollow SHP, Garden County
Hesperia ottoe  Ottoe Skipper7/15/20, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Keya Paha /County
Hesperia leonardus  Leonard’s Skipper8/22/20, Ash Hollow SHP, Garden County
Hesperia pahaska  Pahaska Skipper6//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 Skipper6/6/20, TNC Speidell Tract, Hall County
Polites sabuleti  Sandhills Skipper
Polites themistocles  Tawny-edged Skipper6/1/20, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Brown County
Polites origenes  Crossline Skipper7/5/20, Box Elder SWMA, Lincoln County
Polites mystic  Long Dash6/21/20, Wildcat Hills SRA, Scotts Bluff County
Wallengrenia egeremet  Northern Broken-Dash7/15/20, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Brown County
Pompeis verna  Little Glassywing
Atalopedes campestris  Sachem6/7/20, Elm Creek, Buffalo County
Atrytone arogos  Arogos Skipper7/4/20, Macon Lakes Waterfowl Production Area, Franklin County
Anatrytone logan  Delaware Skipper6/18/20, Kinter’s Ford SWMA, Richardson County
Problema byssus  Byssus Skipper7/1/20, Kinter’s Ford SWMA, Richardson County
Poanes massasoit  Mulberry Wing7/8/20, Beaver Creek Marsh, Boone County
Poanes hobomok  Hobomok Skipper5/19/20, Box Elder SWMA, Lincoln County
Poanes zabulon  Zabulon Skipper
Poanes taxiles  Taxiles Skipper6/22/20 Soldier Creek Wilderness, Sioux County
Poanes viator  Broad-winged Skipper7/8/20, Beaver Creek Marsh, Boone County
Euphyes dion  Dion Skipper
Euphyes conspicuous  Black Dash
Euphyes bimacula  Two-spotted Skipper
Euphyes vestris  Dun Skipper6/18/20, Four Mile Creek SWMA, Richardson County
Atrytonopsis hianna  Dusted Skipper5/19/20, Box Elder SWMA, Lincoln County
Amblyscirtes simius  Simius Roadside Skipper
Amblyscirtes oslari  Oslar’s Roadside Skipper
Amblyscirtes nysa  Nysa Roadside Skipper
Amblyscirtes vialis  Roadside Skipper4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County
Lerodea eufala  Eufala Skipper
Calpodes ethlius  Brazilian Skipper
Megathymus yuccae  Yucca Giant Skipper4/11/20, 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 Swallowtail4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County
Papilio polyxenes  Black Swallowtail5/3/20, Jeffrey Canyon WMA, Lincoln County
Papilio machaon  Baird’s Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon  Anise Swallowtail5/26/20, Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux County
Papilio indra  Indra Swallowtail7/22/20, Pants Butter area, Sioux County
Papilio cresphontes  Giant Swallowtail6/1/20, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Brown County
Papilio glaucus  Eastern Tiger Swallowtail4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County
Papilio rutulus  Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio multicaudata  Two-tailed Swallowtail6/21/20, 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 White5/26/20, Monroe Canyon, Gilbert-Baker SWMA, Sioux County
Pontia occidentalis  Western White
Pieris napi  Mustard White
Pieris rapae  Cabbage Butterfly5/20/20, in Elm Creek, Buffalo County
Euchloe ausonides  Large Marble
Euchloe olympia  Olympia Marblewing4/11/20, Box Elder WMA, Lincoln County
Anthocharis midea  Falcate Orangetip
Colias philodice  Clouded Sulphur5/3/20, Box Elder WMA, Lincoln County
Colias eurytheme  Alfalfa Butterfly4/23/20, 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 Sulphur7/19/20, 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 Yellow6/1/20, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Brown County
Pyrisitia nise  Mimosa Sulphur
Abaeis nicippe  Sleepy Orange6/2/20, Elm Creek, Buffalo County
Nathalis iole  Dainty Sulphur6/12/20, Ash Hollow SHP, Garden County
Family: LYCAENIDAE
Feniseca tarquinius  Harvester
Lycaena phlaeas  Little Copper7/8/20, Cedar River Headwaters, Garfield County
Lycaena dione  Dione Copper6/18/20, Kinter’s Ford SWMA, Richardson County
Lycaena hyllus  Bronze Copper6/23/20, Road 46, 1 mile south of Lewellen, Garden County
Lycaena rubida  Ruddy Copper6/12/20, road from Oshkosh to Crescent Lake, Garden County
Lycaena helloides  Purplish Copper7/8/20, Cedar River Headwaters, Garfield County
Satyrium titus  Coral Hairstreak6/18/20, Prairie Knoll SWMA, Pawnee County
Satyrium acadicum  Acadian Hairstreak6/27/20, Victoria Springs Road @ Middle Loup River, Custer County
Satyrium edwardsii  Edwards’ Hairstreak
Satyrium calanus  Banded Hairstreak6/18/20, Four Mile Creek SWMA, Richardson County
Satyrium caryaevorum  Hickory Hairstreak6/18/20, Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy County
Satyrium liparops  Striped Hairstreak
Ministrymon leda  Leda Hairstreak
Calycopis cecrops  Red-banded Hairstreak
Callophrys affinis apama  Apama Hairstreak6/23/20, roadside 2 miles south of I-80 mm1, Kimball County
Callophrys g. gryneus  Olive Hairstreak5/5/20, Harlan County Reservoir – Cedar Point area, Harlan County
Callophrys. g. siva  Juniper Hairstreak
Callophrys henrici  Henry’s Elfin4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County
Callophrys niphon  Eastern Pine Elfin
Callophrys eryphon  Western Pine Elfin
Strymon melinus  Gray Hairstreak5/3/20, Box Elder WMA, Lincoln County
Parrhasius m-album  White-M Hairstreak
Brephidium exilis  Pygmy Blue
Leptotes marina  Marine Blue6/12/20, Ash Hollow SHP, Garden County
Echinargus isola  Reakirt’s Blue6/7/20, Elm Creek, Buffalo County
Cupido comyntas  Eastern Tailed Blue4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County
Cupido amyntula  Western Tailed Blue
Celastrina neglecta  Summer Azure6/6/20, TNC Speidell Tract, Hall County
Celastrina ladon  Spring Azure4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County
Euphilotes enoptes  Dotted Blue
Euphilotes rita  Rita Blue
Glaucopsyche piasus  Arrowhead Blue5/26/20, Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux County
Glaucopsyche lygdamus  Silvery Blue5/3/20, Box Elder WMA, Lincoln County
Plebejus melissa  Melissa Blue5/26/20, Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux County
Plebejus saepiolus  Greenish Blue
Plebejus icarioides  Icarioides Blue6/22/20 Gilbert-Baker SWMA, Sioux County
Plebejus shasta  Shasta Blue
Plebejus lupini  Lupine Blue
Family: NYMPHALIDAE
Libytheana carinenta  Snout Butterfly7/1/20, Four Mile Creek SWMA, Richardson County
Agraulis vanillae  Gulf Fritillary
Dryas iulia  Julia
Heliconius charithonia  Zebra Longwing
Euptoieta claudia  Variegated Fritillary5/3/20, Box Elder WMA, Lincoln County
Speyeria cybele  Great Spangled Fritillary6/18/20, Four Mile Creek SWMA, Richardson County
Speyeria aphrodite  Aphrodite Fritillary6/21/20, Wildcat Hills SRA, Scotts Bluff County
Speyeria idalia  Regal Fritillary6/18/20, Prairie Knoll SWMA, Pawnee County
Speyeria edwardsii  Edwards’ Fritillary6/21/20, 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 Fritillary7/3/20, 1.75 mi n, 0.5 mi e of Worms, Merrick County
Boloria bellona  Meadow Fritillary
Boloria titaniaTitania Fritillary
Poladryas arachne  Arachne Checkerspot
Chlosyne fulvia  Fulvia Checkerspot
Chlosyne lacinia  Bordered Patch
Chlosyne gorgone  Gorgone Checkerspot5/3/20, Jeffrey Canyon WMA, Lincoln County
Chlosyne nycteis  Silvery Checkerspot6/18/20, 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 Crescent5/5/20, 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 Checkerspot5/26/20, Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux County
Euphydryas phaeton  Baltimore
Polygonia interrogationis  Question Mark6/2/20, Elm Creek, Buffalo County
Polygonia comma  Eastern Comma7/1/20, Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy County
Polygonia satyrus  Satyr Anglewing
Polygonia zephyrus  Zephyr
Polygonia progne  Gray Comma7/1/20, Table Rock SWMA, Pawnee County
Nymphalis l-album  Compton Tortoise Shell
Nymphalis antiopa  Mourning Cloak6/12/20, Crescent Lake SWMA, Garden County
Aglais milberti  Milbert’s Tortoise Shell6/23/20, Road 46, 1 mile south of Lewellen, Garden County
Vanessa virginiensis  American Painted Lady5/5/20, Harlan County Reservoir – Cedar Point area, Harlan County
Vanessa carduii  Painted Lady4/25/20, Sandy Channel SRA, Buffalo County
Vanessa annabella  West Coast Lady
Vanessa atalanta  Red Admiral4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County
Junonia coenia  Buckeye6/12/20, Road south of Lewellen, Garden County
Anartia jatrophae  White Peacock
Limenitis arthemis Astyanax  Red-spotted Purple6/18/20, Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy County
Limenitis archippus  Viceroy6/12/20, Crescent Lake SWMA, Garden County
Limenitis weidemeyerii  Weidemeyer’s Admiral6/21/20, Wildcat Hills SRA, Scotts Bluff County
Mestra amymone  Amymone
Marpesia petreus  Ruddy Dagger Wing
Anaea aidea  Tropical Leaf Wing
Anaea andria  Goatweed Butterfly4/26/20, Indian Cave SP, Nemaha County
Asterocampa celtis  Hackberry Butterfly6/18/20, Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy County
Asterocampa clyton  Tawny Emperor7/1/20, Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy County
Lethe anthedon  Northern Pearly Eye7/1/20, Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy County
Lethe eurydice  Eyed Brown6/27/20, Victoria Springs Creek @ Milburn Road, Custer County
Megisto cymela  Little Wood Satyr7/15/20, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Brown County
Coenonympha tullia inornata  Inornate Ringlet
Coenonympha t. ochracea  Ochre Ringlet5/26/20, Monroe Canyon, Gilbert-Baker SWMA, Sioux County
Cercyonis pegala  Common Wood Nymph6/27/20, 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 Arctic5/26/20, Monroe Canyon, Gilbert-Baker SWMA, Sioux County
Danaus plexippus  Monarch5/20/20, in Elm Creek, Buffalo County
Danaus gilippus  Queen6/23/20, 2 miles south of Oshkosh, Garden County
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