22 butterflies were recorded flying in North Dakota in October in our iNaturalist sample; 2 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top butterflies in October
Painted Lady
Common Checkered-Skipper
Monarch
Clouded Sulphur
Variegated Fritillary
Eastern Comma
Orange Sulphur
Mourning Cloak
Checkered White
Red Admiral
Melissa Blue
Milbert's Tortoiseshell
All butterflies flying in North Dakota in October
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Painted Lady | Vanessa cardui | Brush-footed Butterflies | 32 | Aug (past peak) |
| 2 | Common Checkered-Skipper | Burnsius communis | Skippers | 29 | Sep (past peak) |
| 3 | Monarch | Danaus plexippus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 17 | Aug (past peak) |
| 4 | Clouded Sulphur | Colias philodice | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 9 | Aug (past peak) |
| 5 | Variegated Fritillary | Euptoieta claudia | Brush-footed Butterflies | 7 | Jul (past peak) |
| 6 | Eastern Comma | Polygonia comma | Brush-footed Butterflies | 6 | Apr (past peak) |
| 7 | Orange Sulphur | Colias eurytheme | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 6 | Aug (past peak) |
| 8 | Mourning Cloak | Nymphalis antiopa | Brush-footed Butterflies | 5 | May (past peak) |
| 9 | Checkered White | Pontia protodice | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 5 | Aug (past peak) |
| 10 | Red Admiral | Vanessa atalanta | Brush-footed Butterflies | 4 | Jun (past peak) |
| 11 | Melissa Blue | Plebejus melissa | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 4 | Jun (past peak) |
| 12 | Milbert's Tortoiseshell | Aglais milberti | Brush-footed Butterflies | 3 | Apr (past peak) |
| 13 | Common Buckeye | Junonia coenia | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Aug (past peak) |
| 14 | American Lady | Vanessa virginiensis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Jun (past peak) |
| 15 | California Tortoiseshell | Nymphalis californica | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Oct (peak) |
| 16 | Fiery Skipper | Hylephila phyleus | Skippers | 1 | Sep (past peak) |
| 17 | West Coast Lady | Vanessa annabella | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Oct (peak) |
| 18 | Small White | Pieris rapae | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 1 | Aug (past peak) |
| 19 | Black Swallowtail | Papilio polyxenes | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 1 | Aug (past peak) |
| 20 | Meadow Fritillary | Boloria bellona | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Jul (past peak) |
| 21 | Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | Papilio glaucus | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 1 | Aug (past peak) |
| 22 | Western White | Pontia occidentalis | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 1 | Aug (past peak) |