The one above is a female, the other two are males. You can tell by the blue on the females hindwing.

(note: the males are more yellow than portrayed in the pictures)

 

 

 

 

These are Painted lady butterflies, or Vanewwa cardui. They are widespread, and can be caught in all 48 of the continental states.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the most common butterflies in the U.S., and probably the most boring; The cabbage or Pieris rapae is not much to look at. The female has two dots on its forewing, the male only has one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the larger and more common skippers, it has a white-silver patch on the under side of its hindwing, unlike any other skipper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the most beautiful butterflies in our region, the Mourning Cloak is on the wing throughout the summer here in Pennsylvania. In places where cold weather is not a factor, however, they fly up to year round.

Probably the most famous butterfly in the world, the monarch or Danaus plexippus mirgrates from eastern and central North America to Mexico. Monarchs are very common thoughout the states.