27 butterflies were recorded flying in North Dakota in May in our iNaturalist sample; 3 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top butterflies in May
Red Admiral
Painted Lady
Mourning Cloak
Sagebrush Checkerspot
Gorgone Checkerspot
Melissa Blue
Eastern Comma
Clouded Sulphur
Common Ringlet
Monarch
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Meadow Fritillary
All butterflies flying in North Dakota in May
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Admiral | Vanessa atalanta | Brush-footed Butterflies | 34 | Jun (rising) |
| 2 | Painted Lady | Vanessa cardui | Brush-footed Butterflies | 19 | Aug (rising) |
| 3 | Mourning Cloak | Nymphalis antiopa | Brush-footed Butterflies | 17 | May (peak) |
| 4 | Sagebrush Checkerspot | Chlosyne acastus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 13 | Jun (rising) |
| 5 | Gorgone Checkerspot | Chlosyne gorgone | Brush-footed Butterflies | 13 | Jun (rising) |
| 6 | Melissa Blue | Plebejus melissa | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 12 | Jun (rising) |
| 7 | Eastern Comma | Polygonia comma | Brush-footed Butterflies | 11 | Apr (past peak) |
| 8 | Clouded Sulphur | Colias philodice | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 10 | Aug (rising) |
| 9 | Common Ringlet | Coenonympha california | Brush-footed Butterflies | 9 | Jun (rising) |
| 10 | Monarch | Danaus plexippus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 7 | Aug (rising) |
| 11 | Canadian Tiger Swallowtail | Papilio canadensis | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 6 | May (peak) |
| 12 | Meadow Fritillary | Boloria bellona | Brush-footed Butterflies | 6 | Jul (rising) |
| 13 | Small White | Pieris rapae | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 5 | Aug (rising) |
| 14 | Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | Papilio glaucus | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 5 | Aug (rising) |
| 15 | Anise Swallowtail | Papilio zelicaon | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 4 | May (peak) |
| 16 | Silvery Blue | Glaucopsyche lygdamus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 4 | Jun (rising) |
| 17 | Black Swallowtail | Papilio polyxenes | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 3 | Aug (rising) |
| 18 | Juniper Hairstreak | Callophrys gryneus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 3 | Jun (rising) |
| 19 | Gray Hairstreak | Strymon melinus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 2 | Aug (rising) |
| 20 | Orange Sulphur | Colias eurytheme | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 2 | Aug (rising) |
| 21 | Milbert's Tortoiseshell | Aglais milberti | Brush-footed Butterflies | 2 | Apr (past peak) |
| 22 | American Lady | Vanessa virginiensis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Jun (rising) |
| 23 | Pearl Crescent | Phyciodes tharos | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Sep (rising) |
| 24 | Variegated Fritillary | Euptoieta claudia | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Jul (rising) |
| 25 | Two-tailed Swallowtail | Papilio multicaudata | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 1 | Jun (rising) |
| 26 | Hackberry Emperor | Asterocampa celtis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Jul (rising) |
| 27 | Western White | Pontia occidentalis | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 1 | Aug (rising) |