Butterflies, Skippers, Moths
Monarch on New England Aster
Maryland has around 150 species of butterflies and skippers, most of which are generalists. However, as caterpillars, more than half of them are specialists, requiring their respective (native) host plants for food. Monarch caterpillars require milkweed, while Pearl Crescent caterpillars require asters. Refer to the Maryland Department of Natural Resource’s Butterflies of Maryland: a Biological Summary and Checklist for more examples.
Tussock Moth on Common Milkweed
