Brush-Footed Butterflies

Denali National Park and Preserve is home to diverse array of plant life. These plants rely on pollinators to reproduce. Pollinators stop by in search of nectar and other rewards. Along their journey, they collect and deposit pollen from plant to plant and aid the reproduction process.

There are over 50 species of butterflies in Denali, making them an important part of the ecosystem. We can thank them, along with the many other pollinators in Alaska, for the colorful displays of wildflowers in the spring, and the wealth of berries in the fall.

Learn more about pollination in Denali with this interactive story map.

Butterflies in the Nymphalidae Family

 
butterfly with mottled orange, white and brown wings

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Alaskan fritillary

Boloria alaskensis
 
butterfly with brown, orange and white wings

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Arctic fritillary

Boloria chariclea
 
butterfly with orange, white and yellow wings

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Bog fritillary

Boloria eunomia
 
brown and orange butterfly

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Freija fritillary

Boloria freija
 
creamsicle colored butterfly

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Dingy fritillary

Boloria improba
 
brown, white and black butterfly

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Polaris fritillary

Boloria polaris
 
light tan butterfly

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Common ringlet

Coenonympha tullia
 
dark gray butterfly

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Red-disked alpine

Erebia discoidalis
 
brown butterfly with iridescent spots

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Banded alpine

Erebia fasciata
 
dark gray butterfly

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Taiga alpine

Erebia mancinus
 
brown butterfly with orange spots

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Yellow-dotted alpine

Erebia pawloskii
 
mostly black butterfly with large whit stripes and orange and blue dots

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

White admiral

Limenitis arthemis
 
dark red, black and white butterfly

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Mourning cloak

Nymphalis antiopa
 
brown and gray butterfly

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

White-veined arctic

Oeneis bore
 
dark gray butterfly

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Jutta arctic

Oeneis jutta
 
dark gray butterfly

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Melissa arctic

Oeneis melissa
 
light brown butterfly

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Polixenes arctic

Oeneis polixenes
 
dark gray butterfly

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Green comma

Polygonia faunus
 
a mostly orange butterfly

Ken Philip photo, used by permission of the University of Alaska Museum

Hoary comma

Polygonia gracilis

Last updated: November 18, 2019

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755

Phone:

907 683-9532
A ranger is available 9 am to 4 pm daily (except on major holidays). If you reach the voicemail, please leave a message and we'll call you back as soon as we finish with the previous caller.

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