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 Spring Azure butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Fitton Green, Linn County, March 26 Echo Azure Celastrina echo AKA Pacific Azure Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Male lilac-blue above, with no black markings. Female dusky-blue, with few marginal spots ringed with gray, FW with dark bands on outer edge. Below, bright gray-white, with very light marginal band of chevrons, and small black spots. Below, gray discal bars on both FW and HW. Similar species: Light markings below with no tails or orange spots distinctive and usually easy to distinguish from other blues. Host plant: Many shrub species including red osier dogwood, elderberry, madrone, snowbrush, and oceanspray . Habitat: Shrubby habitats and riparian areas. Range: Most of Oregon except dry basin and range areas on the east side of Cascade Mtns. Season: Late February to early October Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Sylvan Hairstreak butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Frissell Ridge, Lane Co, July 17 Sylvan Hairstreak Satyrium sylvinus Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Warm, toasty brown above. Below, lighter gray-brown with median pale black spot band. On HW below, dash or checkmark spot next to blue patch below tail. Blue patch not edged in orange inwardly. HW and FW below with vague submarginal band of black lines, only two or three of which are edged outwardly with orange near tail. Similar species: California HS is generally more boldly marked, has black V-shaped spot next to the blue patch (not checkmark or dash), has orange on the inward edge of the HW blue patch, and has orange halos on black crescents along most of the outer margin below, often including the forewing . Host plant: Willows (Salix sp.) . Habitat: Meadows, willow stands, and canyon slopes near water. Range: East slope of Cascades, most of SE and SW Oregon except Gilliam, Morrow and Umatilla counties and Wallowa Mtns. Season: Early May to mid-September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Blue Copper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Ditch Cr Rd, Morrow Co, July 7 - male Blue Copper Tharsalea heteronea AKA Lycaena heteronea Size: 1.25 - 1.5 inches wingspan Key ID features: Male above bright blue with black veins, black border and white fringe. Female above blueish gray with small black spots. Female HW below white with light spots; FW below with black spots. Male similar below but with lighter or no spots on HW. Similar species: Male is larger and faster-flying than similar blues. Female somewhat similar to Ruddy Copper, which has orange zigzag above and orange wash below. Host plant: Buckwheat (Eriogonum ) species. Habitat: High sagelands, grasslands, montane and subalpine slopes and ridges, canyons and plateaus . Range: Cascade Mtns and eastern Oregon except Columbia River drainage in Gilliam, Morrow and Umatilla counties. Season: Early May to early September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Silvery Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next W Boundary Rd, Lane Co, April 28, male Silvery Blue Glaucopsyche lygdamus Size: 1.0 - 1.2 inches wingspan Key ID features: Male brilliant silvery-blue above, with narrow dark wing borders, white fringes, often with marginal row of small black spots. Female gray-brown with some blue scaling. Below gray or blue-gray, with bold median row of round black spots with white rims, and lighter discal cell end bars on FW and HW. Similar species: Boisduval's Blue has variable submarginal markings on HW and FW below. Host plant: Lupine species (Lupinus ). Habitat: Moist, open areas near lakes, streams and wetlands. Range: All of Oregon except north coast. Season: Mid-March to early September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Mormon Fritillary butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Summit Meadows, Lane Co, August 13 Mormon Fritillary Argynnis mormonia AKA Speyeria mormonia Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Small for a greater fritillary. Male bright orange above with fine black veins, black irregular markings inwardly, submarginal black spot band and black arrows that point inward. Female darker orange above with all black markings bolder. Below ground color of "disc" on HW light orange-tan with large oblong silvery-white spots with brown to dark maroon shadows. Similar species: Hesperis is larger and has reddish brown disc below. Hydaspe is larger and has dark red to maroon disc below. Hostplant: Violet (Viola ) species . Habitat: Openings, riparian areas and meadows in coniferous forests above 3,500 feet. Range: Found on east slope of Cascades, and in Warner Mtns, Steens Mtn, Ochocos, Wallowa Mtns and Blue Mtns. Season: Early June to mid-October. Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for Riding's Satyr. Gallery Prev Next Light Peak, Warner Mtns, Lake Co, July 14 Ridings' Satyr Neominois ridingsii Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above sandy gray-brown with elongated light tan to white patches on FW containing black eyespots with white centers. Sometimes one small eyespot on HW above. Below similar to above, but with HW having a more grizzled look crossed by zigzag dark lines and light vein lines. Very cryptic and difficult to spot when perched with wings closed. Similar species: None. Host plant: Grasses, but no specific species identified in Oregon . Habitat: Grassy habitats including sage-steppe, plateaus, montane meadows and dry hillsides. Range: Millican Flats area near Pine Mtn in Crook and Deschutes counties, Light Peak in Warner Mtns, Pueblo Mtns, Trout Creek Mtns. Season: Late June to mid-August Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Gray Marble butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Eight Dollar Mtn Rd, Josephine Co, June 4 Gray Marble Anthocaris lanceolata Size: Up to 2 inches wingspan Key ID features: White above, with small, sparse black markings on FW. Below, light gray marbling on HW and on FW tip. Outer margin of FW is concave, giving slightly hooked appearance to FW. Similar species: Much larger than other Marbles, lacks orange on forewing of Sara Orangetip. Host plant: Crucifers, including several rockcresses. Habitat: Often found on South-facing slopes, on wooded canyons, gullies, washes, steep-walled ravines. Range: Siskiyou Mtns and Warner Mtns. Season: Early May to early July Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Ancilla Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Sage Hen Rest Stop, Harney Co, June 12 Ancilla Blue Euphilotes ancilla AKA Rocky Mountain Dotted Blue Size: Up to 0.85 inch wingspan Key ID features: Small. Male blue above with narrow dark wing borders. Female dark brown above with variable orange zigzag along trailing margin. Both sexes have checked fringe on FW. Below yellowish-gray with bold black spots, and orange edges to submarginal black spots on HW, often forming solid band. Similar species: Best told from other Euphilotes blues by host-plant association, location and flight period. Host plant: Eriogonum sphaerocephalum (rock buckwheat). Habitat: Well-drained sites where hostplant grows, including gravelly slopes and roadsides. Range: Harney County . Season: Late May to early July Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for Common Wood Nymph. Gallery Prev Next Beaver Cr, Wasco Co, July 2 Common Woodnymph Cercyonis pegala Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Highly variable. Above, shades of brown and gray-brown with two large eye spots on FW, nearly equal in size or lower eye larger, otherwise plain. Below, striated brown with one to several small eyespots on HW, two large eyespots on FW (as above). Some eastern Oregon populations can have large, bright halos around FW eyespots, and six bold eyespots on HW below (see photo). Similar species: Great Basin Woodnymph is smaller, shorter winged and has more prominent bands below. Small Woodnymph is smaller, darker, and usually more gray and grizzled looking below. Host plant: Undetermined grass species . Habitat: Prairies, meadows, marshes, pastures, roadsides. Range: All of Oregon except northern coast and flat basin lands between Riley and Brothers (SE of Bend). Season: Mid-may to late September Abundance: Very common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Propertius Duskywing butterfly. Gallery Prev Next W Boundary Rd, Lane Co, April 26 - female Propertius Duskywing Erynnis propertius Size: Up to 1.75 inch wingspan Key ID features: Our largest duskywing. Above, FW gray-brown with frosted bands and spots, 3-6 hyaline (glassy, translucent) spots on FW . FW often appears banded, especially in females. HW plainer gray-brown sometimes with vague light spots. Below brown with light spots and hyaline spots on FW, few to no small vague spots on HW. Similar species: Other duskywings are smaller, and generally less boldy marked. Host plant: Oak species, especially Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana ), and golden chinkapin (Chrysolepis chrysophylla ) at higher elevations. Habitat: Open areas near oaks or chinkapin. Range: Western Oregon from Cascade Crest to crest of Coast Range. Season: Late March to mid-July Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure