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Native Nature

Celebrating the beauty of nature through photography and community. Share your wildlife observations, create and support conservation projects, and help protect biodiversity around the world.

Conservation Projects

Sharon Creek Restoration
Elk Falls Urban Pollinator Garden Initiative
Erie Coastal Marine Sanctuary Initiative
Hillsboro Urban Pollinator Garden Initiative
Las Animas Wildlife Corridor Initiative
Simpson Wildlife Corridor Initiative
Plant a Butterfly Garden at Chisholm Park
Hemingford Native Plant Nursery Initiative

Most Favorited

Evening Bat (10)
American Beaver (10)
American Ermine (10)
Downy Woodpecker (9)
Virginia Opossum (9)
Baltimore Oriole (9)
Dyer's Polypore (8)
Mallard (8)

Recent Observations

Scarlet Lady's Tresses
Common Ink Cap
Swift Crab Spider
Lophiolepis decussata
wild garlic

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Butterflies & Moths

Butterflies & Moths in South Dakota

Discover butterflies and moths observed in South Dakota, United States

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Monarch

Monarch

Danaus plexippus

997 observations

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

Vanessa atalanta

758 observations

Painted Lady

Painted Lady

Vanessa cardui

588 observations

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Papilio glaucus

390 observations

White-lined Sphinx

White-lined Sphinx

Hyles lineata

364 observations

Melissa Blue

Melissa Blue

Plebejus melissa

357 observations

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

Papilio polyxenes

279 observations

Small White

Small White

Pieris rapae

231 observations

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Epargyreus clarus

228 observations

Orange Sulphur

Orange Sulphur

Colias eurytheme

222 observations

Common Checkered-Skipper

Common Checkered-Skipper

Burnsius communis

198 observations

Virginian Tiger Moth

Virginian Tiger Moth

Spilosoma virginica

172 observations

Chickweed Geometer Moth

Chickweed Geometer Moth

Haematopis grataria

168 observations

Isabella Tiger Moth

Isabella Tiger Moth

Pyrrharctia isabella

167 observations

Viceroy

Viceroy

Limenitis archippus

158 observations

Variegated Fritillary

Variegated Fritillary

Euptoieta claudia

157 observations

Weidemeyer's Admiral

Weidemeyer's Admiral

Limenitis weidemeyerii

149 observations

Leafy Spurge Hawkmoth

Leafy Spurge Hawkmoth

Hyles euphorbiae

130 observations

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Polygonia comma

119 observations

Green Cloverworm Moth

Green Cloverworm Moth

Hypena scabra

115 observations

Common Wood-Nymph

Common Wood-Nymph

Cercyonis pegala

112 observations

Sweetheart Underwing

Sweetheart Underwing

Catocala amatrix

106 observations

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Phyciodes tharos

104 observations

Betrothed Underwing

Betrothed Underwing

Catocala innubens

102 observations

Question Mark

Question Mark

Polygonia interrogationis

98 observations

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Nymphalis antiopa

96 observations

Cecropia Moth

Cecropia Moth

Hyalophora cecropia

94 observations

Yellow-collared Scape Moth

Yellow-collared Scape Moth

Cisseps fulvicollis

93 observations

North American Common Gray

North American Common Gray

Anavitrinella pampinaria

92 observations

Huron Skipper

Huron Skipper

Atalopedes huron

88 observations

Regal Fritillary

Regal Fritillary

Argynnis idalia

88 observations

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Everes comyntas

85 observations

Dingy Cutworm Moth

Dingy Cutworm Moth

Feltia jaculifera

85 observations

Common Ringlet

Common Ringlet

Coenonympha california

84 observations

Mother Underwing Moth

Mother Underwing Moth

Catocala parta

84 observations

Hackberry Emperor

Hackberry Emperor

Asterocampa celtis

83 observations

Snowberry Clearwing

Snowberry Clearwing

Hemaris diffinis

81 observations

Celery Looper Moth

Celery Looper Moth

Anagrapha falcifera

80 observations

Peck's Skipper

Peck's Skipper

Polites peckius

74 observations

Marsh Dagger

Marsh Dagger

Acronicta insularis

73 observations

Waved Sphinx

Waved Sphinx

Ceratomia undulosa

72 observations

Pink-barred Pseudeustrotia Moth

Pink-barred Pseudeustrotia Moth

Pseudeustrotia carneola

71 observations

Edwards's Fritillary

Edwards's Fritillary

Argynnis edwardsii

70 observations

Bristly Cutworm Moth

Bristly Cutworm Moth

Lacinipolia renigera

68 observations

Gray Hairstreak

Gray Hairstreak

Strymon melinus

67 observations

Vashti Sphinx

Vashti Sphinx

Sphinx vashti

67 observations

Northern Crescent

Northern Crescent

Phyciodes cocyta

65 observations

Forage Looper Moth

Forage Looper Moth

Caenurgina erechtea

65 observations

Little Underwing

Little Underwing

Catocala minuta

64 observations

Aphrodite Fritillary

Aphrodite Fritillary

Argynnis aphrodite

64 observations

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 10 most common butterflies and moths in South Dakota?

The 10 most common butterflies and moths in South Dakota are:

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
White-lined Sphinx (Hyles lineata)
Melissa Blue (Plebejus melissa)
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Small White (Pieris rapae)
Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)

What is the most observed butterflies and moth in South Dakota?

The most observed butterflies and moth in South Dakota is Monarch (Danaus plexippus), with 997 recorded observations.

What are the most common invasive butterflies and moths in South Dakota?

Some of the most commonly observed invasive butterflies and moths in South Dakota include:

Small White (Pieris rapae)
Leafy Spurge Hawkmoth (Hyles euphorbiae)