Painted Skimmer (Libellula semifasciata) adult female. Libellulidae family (skimmers).
Welcome to my photo gallery of insects I’ve observed in the New York region, including Long Island and upstate. My primary focus is butterflies, moths, dragonflies, and damselflies. All photos are taken by me, Betsy McCully, unless otherwise noted.
If you wish to use any of the photos, please see the Terms of Use page before contacting me at the email address below.
Butterflies
Butterflies are arranged alphabetically by family, and within each family by the common English name. Skippers (Family Hesperiidae) are grouped separately. Both common and scientific names are taken from the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) checklist of Butterflies for North America 2.4 edition.
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta). Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta). Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis astyanax). Also called Red-spotted Purple. Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis astyanax). Also called Red-spotted Purple. Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta). Lycaenidae family (gossamer-winged butterflies).
Cherry Gall Azure (Celastrina serotina). Identified by Harry Pavulaan at I-Naturalist. (Species not in NABA checklist.) Lycaenidae family (gossamer-winged butterflies).
Eastern Tailed Blue (Everes comyntas). Lycaenidae family (gossamer-winged butterflies).
Eastern Tailed Blue (Everes comyntas). Lycaenidae family (gossamer-winged butterflies).
American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas). Lycaenidae family (gossamer-winged butterflies).
American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas). Lycaenidae family (gossamer-winged butterflies).
Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium colanus). Lycaenidae family (gossamer-winged butterflies).
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon mellinus). Lycaenidae family (gossamer-winged butterflies).
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus). Lycaenidae family (gossamer-winged butterflies).
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia). Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos). Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos). Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis). Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis). Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui). Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui). Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Mourning Cloak sunning on deck at edge of oak woodland. Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis). Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis). Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Common Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala). A large satyr. Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Common Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala). A large satyr. Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela). Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela). Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies).
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes). Papilionidae family.
(Moths are arranged alphabetically by family. Taxonomy follows David Beadle & Seabrooke Leckie, Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America, 2012.)