Photo Gallery (U.S. National Park Service)

Studies of invertebrates in Cuyahoga Valley include butterfly monitoring. Butterflies are important pollinators and also play a significant role in nutrient recycling, both as consumers and as prey for other species. After almost 30 years of monitoring, a total of 82 species of butterflies have been found in the park. Flit through this gallery to learn more about some of them.

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A small orange and black butterfly lands upon a cluster of light purple pom-pom like flowers. The background is filled with similar flowers and green leaves.

Pearl crescent

523 x 638
0.4 MB

A white butterfly faces right on top of a purple thistle. The background is a yellow-brown blur.

European cabbage white

1826 x 1716
4.7 MB

A white and brown butterfly with black spots sits atop a pointy heart shaped leaf. The background is a blurry green color.

Little wood satyr

436 x 437
0.7 MB

An orange-yellow butterfly clings to a white and yellow flower. The background is a blurry green-brown.

Orange sulphur

373 x 373
3.3 MB

Light blue butterfly with small black dots on its wings sits on a wide green blade-like leaf.

Eastern tailed blue

401 x 401
0.1 MB

Brown and tan butterfly with two large black spots on its wing sits on a cluster of pink flowers.

Common wood nymph

514 x 515
0.2 MB

Small orange butterfly perched on the top of a pink clover flower.

European skipper

1255 x 1257
0.8 MB

An orange and black butterfly with white spots clings to the side of vibrant purple ironweed flowers.

Monarch

480 x 503
2.8 MB

A brown butterfly with a white patch on its lower wing clings to a cluster of small pink flowers.

Silver-spotted skipper

466 x 466
0.9 MB

An orange butterfly with black lines around the edges and inside of its wings perches with its wings open on an irregularly-shaped green leaf.

Viceroy

477 x 561
12.4 MB

An orange-brown butterfly with small black circles and curves on its wings sits on a cluster of pink and white milkweed flowers.

Great spangled fritillary

442 x 475
0.9 MB

A yellow butterfly with black stripes at the top of its wings and blue splotches near the bottom, sits among budding pink flowers with blue sky behind it.

Eastern tiger swallowtail

480 x 640
1.1 MB

A light yellow butterfly clings to the side of a pink clover flower.

Clouded sulphur

1728 x 2304
0.6 MB

Two gray and orange butterflies with small black dots on their wings sit on opposite sides of a green blade of grass.

American copper

593 x 639
0.2 MB

Dark brown butterfly with small white dots along the edges of its wings perched with wings open on a green plant.

Wild indigo duskywing

442 x 483
0.2 MB

Brown butterfly with white and orange speckles perched on the edge of a clear plastic container.

Zabulon skipper

448 x 638
0.1 MB

Dark brown butterfly with light blue streak near the bottom of its wings, perched with wings open on gray sunlit gravel.

Red-spotted purple

480 x 640
0.2 MB

Golden brown butterfly perched on the dried brown head of a blade of grass.

Least skipper

1728 x 2304
0.8 MB

A black butterfly with yellow and orange spots clings to the side of a purple thistle flower.

Black swallowtail

369 x 399
0.4 MB

Beige butterfly with blue and orange spots on its wings perched in the yellow center of a flower, surrounded by white petals nearly its length.

Acadian hairstreak

541 x 639
0.2 MB

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Tags

ohio Midwest butterflies insects wildlife pollinators lepidoptera