List of butterflies of Dominica

Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) in Cabrits National Park, Dominica.

Fifty-five species of butterflies have been officially recorded in Dominica, an island-nation in the Caribbean Lesser Antilles.

Two species are endemic to Dominica: the Dominican Hairstreak (Electrostrymon dominicana) and the Dominican Snout (Libytheana fulvescens). An additional seven species are endemic to the Lesser Antilles: Godman's Hairstreak (Allosmaitia piplea), Bronze Hairstreak (Electrostrymon angerona), Godman's Leaf (Memphis dominicana), St Lucia Mestra (Mestra cana), Lesser Whirlabout (Polites dictynna), Broken Dash Skipper (Wallengrenia ophites), and the Stub-tailed Skipper (Urbanus obscurus).

Hesperiidae - Skippers

Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) (photo taken in California)

Tropical Chequered Skipper (Pyrgus oileus) (photo taken in Florida)

Subfamily Pyrginae

• Jung's Dusky Wing Achlyodes mithridates
• Zestos Skipper Epargyreus zestos
• Hairy Dusky Wing Ephyriades arcas
• Jamaican Dusky Wing Ephyriades brunnea

Subfamily Eudaminae

• Roy's Skipper Astraptes anaphus
• Hammock Skipper Polygonus leo
• Manuel's Skipper Polygonus manueli
• Mercury Skipper Proteides mercurius
• Stub-tailed Skipper Urbanus obscurus (Lesser Antillean endemic)
• Common Long-tail Skipper Urbanus proteus

Subfamily Hesperiinae

• Canna Skipper Calpodes ethlius
• Fiery Skipper Hylephila phyleus
• Nyctelius Skipper Nyctelius nyctelius
• Sugar Cane Skipper Panoquina sylvicola
• Lesser Whirlabout Polites dictynna (Lesser Antillean endemic)
• Tropical Chequered Skipper Pyrgus oileus
• Broken Dash Skipper Wallengrenia ophites (Lesser Antillean endemic)

Libytheidae - Snout Butterflies

Subfamily Libytheinae

• Dominican Snout Libytheana fulvescens (Dominican endemic)

Lycaenidae - Blues and Hairstreaks

St. Christopher's Hairstreak (Chlorostrymon simaethis) (photo taken in Texas)

Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius) (photo taken in Texas)

Subfamily Theclinae

• St. Peter's Hairstreak Allosmaitia coelebs
• Godman's Hairstreak Allosmaitia piplea (Lesser Antillean endemic)
• Clench's Hairstreak Chlorostrymon maesites
• St. Christopher's Hairstreak Chlorostrymon simaethis
• Bronze Hairstreak Electrostrymon angerona (Lesser Antillean endemic)
• Dominican Hairstreak Electrostrymon dominicana (Dominican endemic)
• Drury's Hairstreak Strymon acis
• Bubastus Hairstreak Strymon bubastus
• Hewitson's Hairstreak Strymon columella

Subfamily Polyommatinae

• Hanno Blue Hemiargus hanno
• Cassius Blue Leptotes cassius

Nymphalidae - Fritillaries

Caribbean Buckeye (Junonia evarete) in Coulibistrie, Dominica.

White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae) (photo taken in Florida)

Subfamily Charaxinae

• Godman's Leaf Memphis dominicana (Lesser Antillean endemic)

Subfamily Cyrestinae

• Southern Dagger Tail Marpesia petreus

Subfamily Danainae

• Monarch Danaus plexippus

Subfamily Heliconiinae

• Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae
• Silver Spot Dione juno
• Julia Butterfly Dryas iulia
• Zebra Butterfly Heliconius charithonia

Subfamily Limenitidinae

• Red Rim Biblis hyperia
• Orion Cecropian Historis odius
• St Lucia Mestra Mestra cana (Lesser Antillean endemic)

Subfamily Nymphalinae

• White Peacock Anartia jatrophae
• Mimic Hypolimnas misippus
• Caribbean Buckeye Junonia evarete
• Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

Papilionidae - Swallowtails

Polydamas Swallowtail (Battus polydamas) (photo taken in Brazil).

Subfamily Papilioninae

• Polydamas Swallowtail Battus polydamas

Pieridae - Whites and Sulphurs

Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) (specimen from unknown locality).

Subfamily Pierinae

• Migrant Sulphur Aphrissa statira
• Florida White Appias drusilla
• Great Southern White Ascia monuste

Subfamily Coliadinae

• Barred Sulphur Eurema daira
• False Barred Sulphur Eurema elathea
• Hall's Sulphur Eurema leuce
• Little Sulphur Eurema lisa
• Little Yellow Eurema venusta
• Large Orange Sulphur Phoebis agarithe
• Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae
• Straight-line Sulphur Rhabdodryas trite (or Phoebis trite)

Disputed and unconfirmed

• Florida Leafwing Anaea troglodyta. Evans & James (1997) considered the record of this species questionable.
• Unidentified Heliconius sp., noted by Evans & James (1997) to have been sighted on two occasions at the edge of dry forest.

References