With most of our native trees standing stark and bare at this time of year, evergreens like hemlock and pine stand out in the snowy winter landscape. Two-thirds of butterflies and moths depend on native trees and shrubs as host plants, and not just the deciduous ones! For example, more than 200 types of lepidopteran larvae can be found feeding on pine trees (Pinus spp). But only one–the eastern pine elfin–becomes a butterfly! Found in open pine and pine/oak woods, this well-camouflaged, stripy green caterpillar can be hard to spot among the needles of pine trees.
The eastern pine elfin (Callophrys niphon) is another example of a butterfly species that overwinters in our area as a chrysalis (protected under leaf litter), with adults emerging with the first warmth of spring. Once the season is underway, they’re considerably easier to see as they perch, feed, and bask in the sun, often quite close to or even on the ground. Males are most active in the afternoon, when courtship takes place!
Pine elfin butterflies visit a wide variety of nectar sources –at least 19– with favorites such as common milkweed, blueberry, chickweed, and white sweet clover topping the list.
Photo: Chris Williams, used by permission