Utah Habitats for Butterflies and Moths

Wasatch Canyons--Farmington Canyon

 

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Farmington Canyon is a pristine canyon located just Northeast of Farmington City along Skyline drive.  Farmington Canyon offers a variety of butterfly species flying at different times of the spring and summer as the canyon works its way through a few thousand feet in elevation along Farmington Creek.  Farmington Canyon Road (Skyline Drive) also links up with roads which head towards Francis Peak and Bountiful Peak.  

During March, some of the species you may find flying in Farmington Canyon on a sunny, 50+ degree day include some of our overwintering nymphalids such as the Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica), Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis milberti furcillata), Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus satyrus), and/or Hoary Comma (Polygonia zephyrus).

One of the first emergees of spring in early April is Callophrys sheridani neoperplexa (Sheridan's Green Hairstreak). It can be found in isolated pockets near just past the mouth of the canyon in association with its hostplant, Eriogonum heracleoides.  Soon to follow is the Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus franki) and the Rocky Mountain Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes ancilla).  During the warmth of mid-April, several butterfly species of swallowtails, blues, and whites emerge, also begin to fly.  These species include the Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon nitra,) Spring White (Pontia sisymbri sisymbri,) Utah Stella Orangetip (Anthocharis stella browningi,) Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides coloradensis,) Yellow Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle,) Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus oro,) Spring Azure, (Celastrina ladon echo) and Thistle Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta mylitta.)   Because of the extensive outcropping of rocks in nearby cliffs in Farmington Canyon, the Utah Stella Orange-tip flies well because of the species of Arabis that grow there and within the scrub oak. 

Towards the end of April, skippers such as the Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo burgessi,) Rocky Mountain Duskywing (Erynnis telemachus,) the Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis,) and the Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba) start flying.

Other species that start flying in early May, whose males do fly right along this dry canyon are the Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata pusillus,) Melissa Blue (Plebejus melissa melissa,) Field Crescent (Phyciodes pulchellus camillus.)  

Many of these same species of April butterflies can be seen flying in May and into June towards the upper portion of Farmington Canyon at higher elevation.

Towards the end of May, other species that may start flying along the canyon is the Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus rutulus,) Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus franki,) Coronis Fritillary (Speyeria coronis snyderi,) Callippe Fritillary (Speyeria callippe harmonia,) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui,) Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta rubria,) Weidemeyer's Admiral (Limenitis weidemeyeri latifascia,) and the Common Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia brenda.)

Junction of Francis Peak Road (above) from Farmington Canyon Road (below)

During the month of June, other species of fritillaries begin to fly such as the Great Basin Fritillary (Speyeria egleis utahensis,) Northwestern Fritillary (Speyeria hesperis wasatchia,) which fly along with the Northern Crescent (Phyciodes cocyta cocyta.)  In July, at higher elevations, the Hydaspe Fritillary, (Speyeria hydaspe sakantula) and Letona Fritillary (Speyeria cybele letona) fly as well.

Butterfly Species Checklist For Farmington Canyon:

All images of Limenitis weidemeyeri on the ULS Info Bar courtesy Jay Cossey

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