Insects

Schaus' swallowtail 2
The Schaus swallowtail is a large, colorful butterfly endemic to South Florida.

University of Florida/Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences image

The most abundant park animals are insects including dragonflies, butterflies, tree hoppers, golden orb spiders and thousands of others that make the islands their home.

The Schaus swallowtail is a large and colorful butterfly, see image above, that is endemic to South Florida. The state listed the butterfly as an endangered species in 1975. It was listed federally in 1984 when estimates showed only 70 or fewer adults remaining. In recent years the population declined so severely that emergency actions were required to try to prevent this species from going extinct. Visit here to learn more about Schaus Swallowtail conservation efforts.

The following list includes insects documented in the park. They are sorted alphabetically by common name. The list is not exhaustive. Sightings of species not on this list may be submitted to the webmaster. The horseshoe crab is included here because it is not a true crab and is more closely related to spiders.

Ant, Brachymyrmax obscurior
Ant, Brachymyrmax patigonicus
Ant, Camponotus planatus
Ant, Crematogaster ashmeadi
Ant, Cyphomyrmex minutus
Ant, Dorymyrmex insanus
Ant, Nylanderia bourbonica
Ant, Odontomachus ruginoidis
Ant, Pseudomyrmax cubaensis
Ant, Pseudomyrmax gracilis
Ant, Tetramorium simillimum
Ant, Xenomyrmex floridanus
Atala, Eumaeus atala

Bagworm, Cryptothelea gloverii
Bahama Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio andraemon bonhotei
Beetle, Anomala marginata
Black Witch Moth, Ascalapha odorata

Cassius Blue butterfly, Leptotes cassius
Crazy ant, Paratrechina longicornis

Eastern lubber grasshopper, Romalea microptera

Faithful Beauty, Composia fidelissima
Fire ant, Solenopsis geminata
Four-Spotted Pennant, Brachymesia gravida
Fulvous Hairstreak, Electrostrymon angelia

Giant Swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes
Great Pondhawk, Erythemis vesiculosa
Great Southern White Butterfly, Ascia monuste
Grote's sphinx, Cauthethia grotei
Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae

Honey bee, Apis mellifera
House fly, Musca domestica

Inimical Borer moth, Pseudogalleria inimicella

Julia butterfly, Dryas julia

Large Orange Sulphur, Phoebis agarithe
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minuscula

Mangrove Skipper, Phocides pigmalion

Miami blue butterfly, Hemiargus thomasi bethunebakeri
Moth, Banisia furva fracta
Moth, Coxina cintipalpis
Moth, Episimus kimbali
Moth, Ethmia confusella
Moth, Eumestleta cinnamomea
Moth, Gonocausta sabinalis
Moth, Massala obvertens
Moth, Oiketicus abbotii
Moth, Synclera jarbusalis

Oak leafroller, Archips semiferana
Orange Julia, Dryas iulia

Parachma moth, Parachma ochrealis
Polydamas swallowtail, Battus polydamas

Queen butterfly, Danaus gilippus

Red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta

Seagrape Borer, Hexeris enhydris
Southern Flannel Moth, Megalopyge opercularis
Schaus' swallowtail butterfly, Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus
Silver-banded hairstreak, Chlorostrymon simaethis
Somber carpet, Disclisioprocta stellata

Tortyra moth, Tortyra slossonia

Variegated leafroller, Platynota flavedana

Watson's Tallula moth, Tallula watsoni

Zebra Longwing, Helicorius charitonius

Last updated: September 19, 2023

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