CHECKLIST OF WISCONSIN BUTTERFLIES

Leslie A. Ferge¹

This is an update of the previous Wisconsin checklist by Ferge (1990). Its purpose is to provide a compact reference on Wisconsin’s butterfly fauna, including a general account of distribution, occurrence, habitat and flight time. The nomenclature and arrangement of this checklist follow Layberry, Hall and Lafontaine (1998), supplimented by Opler and Malikul (1992) and Nielsen (1999).

Hole and Germain (1994) have delineated six major natural divisions of Wisconsin, based on characteristics of geology, soils and vegetation. These are described below and their location indicated in Figure 1. Although it appears that butterfly distribution correlates well with these natural divisions, this is not exact; the intent being to summarize the available data as briefly as possible. The range given for each species reflects the areas of most frequent and typical occurrence.

Lake Superior Lowland: A level to undulating glaciated plain formerly dominated by boreal forest of white spruce, balsam fir, white cedar, aspen and paper birch, but presently second growth forest similar to much of northern Wisconsin, with large peat bog and wetland areas. Northern Highland: A rolling, glaciated plain with mixed deciduous and coniferous forest. Maple, aspen, red pine and white pine are the major tree species. The region contains an abundance of lakes, extensive conifer swamps and peat bogs, and limited areas of pine barrens on dry, sandy soils. Lake Michigan Shoreland: A level to rolling glaciated region with forests composed of sugar maple, basswood, elm, hemlock and beech at its western limit, with interspersed wetland communities. Central Plains: A nearly level sand plain on a former glacial lake bottom on which the original open jack pine barrens and oak savanna have largely succeeded to closed forests. This is a rich transitional area, with a mixture of western prairie and northern forest elements. Extensive wetlands, ranging from sedge meadows to tamarack bogs occur. Although not indicated on the map, western Burnett County is closely similar to the Central Plains, with most characteristic butterfly species also found there. Southeastern Ridges and Lowlands: A glaciated region of ridges, lowlands and moraines, now largely utilized for farmland, with forested areas containing maple, basswood, ash, elm and oak. Many wetland types are present, including sedge meadows and relic bogs. Limited prairie remnants also occur. Southwestern Upland: A hilly, unglaciated region also known as the Driftless Area, dissected by river valleys. Once extensive areas of prairie and oak savanna are now farmland, with prairie remnants found mostly on steep, rocky sites and on sand plains along the Wisconsin River. The forested areas are composed of oak, hickory, basswood, maple, elm and walnut. Large areas of wet riverbottom forest occur in the lower Wisconsin and Mississippi River Valleys.

Figure 1. Natural Divisons of Wisconsin from Hole and Germain (1994)

LITERATURE CITED

Ferge, Leslie A. 1990. Checklist of Wisconsin Butterflies. Wisconsin Entomological Society Miscellaneous Publication No. 1.
Hole, Francis D. and Clifford E. Germain. 1994. Natural Divisions of Wisconsin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Layberry, R. A., P. W. Hall & J. D. Lafontaine. 1998. The Butterflies of Canada. University of Toronto Press. vii + 280 pp.
Nielsen, Mogens C. 1999. Michigan Butterflies and Skippers. MSU Extension, Michigan State Univeristy. 248 pp.
Opler, Paul A. and Vichai Malikul. 1992. A Field Guide to Eastern Butterflies. Houghton Mifflin Co., New York. xvii + 396 pp.

¹ 7119 Hubbard Avenue, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562-3231 e-mail: ferge@chorus.net