Butterflies of Oregon has exquisite photos and information about all of Oregon's native butterfly species, covering the identification, distribution and biology of each species. A lively blog provides seasonal stories and updates from the field. Butterflies of Oregon Welcome to Butterflies of Oregon, a resource for Oregon butterfly enthusiasts, with photos of all of Oregon's regularly occurring butterfly species and information to help you find and identify them. Butterflies of Oregon also shares stories of the author's attempt to photograph all of Oregon's butterfly species in the wilds of Oregon. Thanks for visiting! www.butterfliesoforegon.com Subscribe to Blog Thanks for submitting! Email Us

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Lupine Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Frissell Ridge, Lane Co, July 18 - male Lupine Blue Icaricia lupini Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inch wingspan Key ID features: Male blue above with narrow black marginal band and white fringe, on HW red-orange band above marginal row of black spots, often with narrow darker band between orange and blue. Female brown above with darker marginal line and white fringe on FW, on HW broad orange band above row of dark brown marginal spots. Below, male light bluish gray, female brownish gray, with black spots. HW has row of marginal spots that are black inwardly, then orange, and outwardly black with a circle of iridescent blue. Similar species: Acmon Blue very similar, but tends to be smaller, and on males, tends to lack dark border between pinkish-orange band and blue on HW above. Note shorter flight season of Lupine Blue below. Host plant: Several Buckwheat (Eriogonum ) species . Habitat: Wide range of habitats, from sea level lowlands to montane habitats. Range: Found in all of eastern Oregon and SW Oregon and on Rickreall Ridge in Polk County. The high elevation segregate (AKA Volcano Blue) is found in high elevation pumice habitat near its host plant, Shasta Buckwheat. Season: Late May to early August Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Oregon Swallowtail butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Lower Deschutes Canyon, Sherman Co, June 25 Thank you to Dana Ross and Paul Hammond , volunteers at OSAC! Oregon Swallowtail Papilio machaon oregonia Size: 2.75 - 3.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Upperside yellow with black bands, veins, and patches, long single tails, blue chevrons on black band near hindwing margin. On HW above, black "pupil" on red eyespot is at the edge of the red, not centered. Abdomen is yellow on sides with relatively narrow black bands on top and bottom. Below, similar pattern as above, with paler yellow ground color, with reddish-orange halos on some of the HW blue chevrons. Similar species: Anise Swallowtail somewhat smaller, black pupil on HW red eyespots is centered within the red, abdomen is mostly black, with narrow yellow bands on sides. Host plant: Wild tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus ). Habitat: Canyons, hillsides, where host plant is found, and on cliffs, ridges, plateaus and mountains above. Range: Throughout Deschutes, Columbia and Snake River basins. Season: Mid-March to mid-October Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Nevada Cloudywing butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Three Creeks Meadow, Jefferson Co, July 17 Nevada Cloudywing Thorybes nevada AKA Cecropterus nevada AKA Thorybes mexicana AKA Mexican Cloudywing Size: Up to 1.5 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above very dark brown with a few white bars and spots on FW, longer and wider than in other Oregon cloudywings. Below similar to above, dark brown with with a few narrow tan or off-white bars and spots on FW, HW darkly striated. Similar species: Northern Cloudywing has smaller sub-cell white bar on FW, and often the white bars are narrower. Western Cloudywing has narrower white bars on FW above. Host plant: Various clover (Trifolium ) species . Habitat: Damp hillsides, creeksides, clearings in coniferous forest. Range: East slope of Cascade Range from Lane County south to northern Klamath and Lake counties. Season: Mid-May to early July Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Western Green Hairstreak butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Lord Flat, Wallowa Co, June 22 Western Green Hairstreak Callophrys affinis Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Above both sexes gray. Below bluish green, sometimes with broken white median line on HW. Similar species: Bramble's range does not overlap. Sheridan's perches on the ground, Western Green perches on top of shrubs. Host plant: Buckwheats (Eriogonum ). Habitat: Sage steppe, dry ridges, mountain summits. Range: Far eastern Oregon, Ochoco Mtns. Season: Early April to mid-July Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Two-banded Checkered Skipper. Gallery Prev Next W Boundary Rd, Lane Co, April 12 Two-banded Checkered Skipper Pyrgus ruralis Size: Up to 1 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above, Above very dark brown, with gray shading basally on FW, boldly checked fringes and bright white patches . White spots on FW in two rows that can look like an "x" to some. HW has bold spot bands, and a lone small white spot near the wing base (often covered). Below bands of brown, white and olive-gray on HW. Similar species: Common Checkered Skipper is much lighter above and below, with more and longer white patches above. Host plant: Checkermallows ( Sidalcea ) and wildflowers in the rose family like cinquefoil ( Potentilla ) and strawberry ( Fragaria ). Habitat: Mountain meadows and roadsides. Range: Cascade Range, Willamette Valley, Coast Range, Ochoco Mtns, Blue Mtns, Wallowa Mtns, Siskiyou Mtns, Klamath Mtns. Season: Early March to early September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Peck's Skipper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Rd 3925, Grant Co, June 30 Peck's Skipper Polites peckius Size: Up to 1.25 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above, dark brown (males darker) with clusters of orange bars, and males with orange-brown on leading edge . FW below dark brown with mustard yellow patches. HW below mottled reddish brown with mustard yellow patches in connected bands. Similar species: HW pattern below is unique. Host plant: Grass species, Kentucky bluegrass, saltgrass, and bromes. Habitat: Wet meadows, roadsides and riparian areas. Range: Wallowa and Blue Mtns. Season: Late June to early August Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Cabbage White butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Lost Lake, Linn Co, August 21 Cabbage White Pieris rapae Size: 1.25 - 1.75 inches wingspan Key ID features: Males white with one black spot and black apex on FW. Female white with two black spots and black FW apex. Yellowish below. Similar species: Mustard White lacks black spots on FW. Host plant: Many species of mustards, including food plants in the cabbage family. Habitat: Found in most habitat types. Range: Introduced from Europe. Found throughout Oregon. Season: Early March to early November Abundance: Abundant Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Yuma Skipper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Ana Reservoir SP, Lake Co, August 1 Yuma Skipper Ochlodes yuma Size: Up to 1.75 inch wingspan Key ID features: Large and plain. Above, tan-orange with graduated dark border . Male with black stigmata on FW, female with light spot band on FW. HW below plain pale tan. Similar species: Large size and unmarked pale tan HW below distinct. Host plant: Primarily American common reed (Phragmites australis ssp. americanus ). Habitat: Near s tands of reeds along streams, seeps and marshes in alkaline lowlands. Range: Summer Lake area in Lake County, Imnaha River canyon in Wallowa County. Season: Early July to early September Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Milbert's Tortoiseshell butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Sand Cr, Klamath Co, June 25 Milbert's Tortoiseshell Aglais milberti Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Unmistakable. Above black with broad red and orange submarginal band across FW and HW, and HW with blue spots in black marginal band. Below two-toned with very dark inner half and brown striated outer half with darker margin. Similar species: Above, unlike any other Oregon species. Below, California Tortoiseshell less distinctly two-toned, outer band more variable and more gray than brown. Host plant: Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica ) . Habitat: Wherever nettles grow, often in wet areas or along waterways. Range: Throughout Oregon . Season: Potentially any time of year, but mostly January to October. Abundance: Common. Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Acmon Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Gert Canyon, Wasco Co, May 4 - male Acmon Blue Icaricia acmon Size: 0.8 - 1.0 inch wingspan Key ID features: Male blue above with narrow black marginal band and white fringe, on HW orange band above marginal row of black spots. Female brown above with darker marginal line and white fringe, on HW broad orange band above row of dark brown marginal spots. Below, light bluish gray with black spots, on HW row of marginal spots that are black inwardly, then orange, and outwardly black with a center circle of iridescent blue. Similar species: Lupine Blue very similar, but tends to be larger, and on males, tends to have a dark border between red-orange band and blue on HW above (Acmon usually has pinkish-orange band transitioning directly to blue). Host plant: Several Buckwheat (Eriogonum ) species and many pea family species including Lotus, Melilotus, and Lupinus . Habitat: Wide range of habitats, from sea level lowlands to montane habitats. Range: Found in all of Oregon except the far NW corner. Season: Early April to early October Abundance: Widespread and common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Common Checkered Skipper. Gallery Prev Next Illinois River Rd, Josephine Co, April 23 Common Checkered Skipper Burnsius communis Size: Up to 1 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above, very dark brown, with gray shading basally on FW, boldly checked fringes and numerous bright white patches (longer than on Two-Banded) . Overall lighter than Two-Banded due to more white patches. Below large white patches, with jagged brown bands, edged in darker brown. Similar species: Two-Banded Checkered Skipper is darker, has fewer white spots above and less white below. Host plant: Various species in the mallow family. Habitat: Found in a wide variety of habitats, both disturbed and undisturbed. Range: All of Oregon except the far NW corner. Season: Mid-April to mid-September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure