Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Greenish Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Lincoln Cr Rd, Jackson Co, May 20 Greenish Blue Icaricia saepiolus Size: 0.85 - 1.25 inch wingspan Key ID features: Male bright blue above with narrow dark wing borders and white fringes. Female brown above with some blue scaling inwardly, and vague or no orange zigzag along trailing margin. Both sexes have distinct black cell end bars on FW above. Male blue-gray below with black spots and marginal row of black triangles. Female below brownish-gray with bold black spots, and orange edges to submarginal black spots on HW. HW below usually has two closely spaced black triangles edged with orange at anal angle of wing. Similar species: Boisduval's blues have black spots below with substantial white halos, and lack orange edged triangles at anal angle of HW. Hostplant: Several clover species (Trifolium ) . Habitat: Wet meadows and riparian areas with clover. Range: Irregular distribution pattern, in Cascades, Ochocos, Blues, Wallowas, Siskiyous, Klamaths and Warner Mtns, plus disjunct populations along the south and middle coast . Season: Late April to late August Abundance: Common inland, scarce along coast Conservation Status: coastal subspecies imperiled in Oregon.

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Chalcedona Checkerspot butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Kinney Cr Rd, Jackson Co, May 26 Chalcedona Checkerspot Euphydryas chalcedona Size: Up to 2.75 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above black with alternating red and white spot bands separated by black lines. HW below has red and white bands, which, from the margin run red-white-red-white-white. Submarginal spot band on dorsal HW has larger pale ivory spots than other similar species. Similar species: Edith's checkerspot has red-white-red-red-white band pattern on HW below. Snowberry Checkerspot has smaller spots in the submarginal band on the dorsal HW. Hostplant: Several species in the figwort family, including paintbushes (Castilleja ), penstemons, and monkeyflowers . Habitat: Mountains and high canyons. Range: Warner Mtns, southern Klamath Mtns and in Jackson and Josephine counties along the border with CA . Season: Late April to early August Abundance: Locally common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for Northern Crescent butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Izee Rd, Grant Co, June 25 - male Northern Crescent Phyciodes cocyta Size: Up to 1 inch wingspan Key ID features: Small. Male above, orange with black spots, checks and borders, sometimes with large open orange area on FW with black patches at the four "corners." Female above orange and light orange bands, separated by black. HW above with submarginal band of small black dots circled with orange, often with wide orange band just above. Male HW below creamy yellow with light brown irregular lines, and bright marginal crescent below midpoint, surrounded with brown. Female HW often with darker irregular brown lines, and lighter brown patch around crescent. Similar species: Female Field Crescent has light vertical bar in cell at leading edge of FW above (Northern lacks this). Host plant: Aster species, likely including Cascade aster (Eucephalus ledophyllus ) and alkali aster (Symphyotrichum frondosum , in lower areas) . Habitat: Wetlands, meadows, streambanks, dry grasslands. Range: Snake River basin, Burnt River basin, Strawberry Mtns . Season: Late April to late September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Clodius Parnassian butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Mule Mountain Ridge, Lane Co, August 5, male Clodius Parnassian Parnassius clodius Size: 2.25 - 3 inches wingspan Key ID features: Above, white, gray/translucent wings with red spots, and all-black or nearly all-black antennae. Same general pattern below, but HW below often has additional red patches basally, and red spots in the median area usually have pink centers. Similar species: Mountain Parnassian (Parnassius smintheus ), which is smaller, and has boldy black/white barred antennae. Host plant: Pacific Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa ). Habitat: Mountain meadows and moist, open mountain woodlands, occasionally in lowlands. Range: Western Oregon, Blue Mountains, Ochocos, Warner Mountains. Season: late May to late August Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Silver-Bordered Fritillary butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Williams Prairie, Crook Co, June 22 Silver-Bordered Fritillary Boloria myrina ( Was Boloria selene) Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above bright citrus orange with black veins, and black irregular lines, black bands of spots and chevrons that point inward. Checked fringe, light orange. Below HW is complex pattern of pearly silver/white patches, cream patches, burgundy patches and burgundy veins. Similar pattern on FW tip below, remainder of FW bright orange with black markings. Similar species: Pacific Fritillary has softer black submarginal markings above, and submarginal black triangles that point outward. Below Pacific has softer pattern of mauve, lavender and pale orange in the outer half of HW. Host plant: Violets, mostly Viola palustris (Marsh violet) and V. nephrophylla (Bog violet). Habitat: Marshy fields, riparian areas with willows. Range: Found in isolated colonies in Ochoco Mtns, Strawberry Mts, Wallowa Mtns. Season: Late May to mid-August (varies by site) Abundance: Locally common Conservation Status: Secure .

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Mariposa Copper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Scott Lake, Lane Co, August 10 Mariposa Copper Tharsalea mariposa AKA Lycaena mariposa Size: 1 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Male above brown with purple iridescence when fresh. Female above bright orange with black spots and borders. HW below silver-gray like weathered wood with black chevrons. FW below orange-brown with black spots, gray-brown border, submarginal row of black chevrons bordered in white. Similar species: Silver-gray HW below is distinctive, lacking spots or orange. Host plant: Huckleberries (Vaccinium ). Habitat: Mountain meadows, sunny roadsides, lake edges . Range: Cascade Range, Ochoco Mtns, Blue Mtns, Wallowas Mtns. Season: Late May to late September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Boiduval's Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Catherine Cr Rd, Wallowa Co, July 8 Boisduval's Blue Icaricia icarioides Size: 1.0 - 1.5 inch wingspan Key ID features: Male bright blue above with charcoal wing borders. Female brown above with orange-brown highlights on FW, often with blue shading basally and vague or no orange band along trailing margin of HW. Both sexes may have dark cell end bars on FW. Male blue-gray below with very small black spots with wide white halos and marginal row of small black triangles. Female below brownish-gray with similar spot pattern. Similar species: Separated from Greenish blues by tiny black spots below having broad white halos, especially on the hindwing, and lack of orange edged triangles at anal angle. Host plant: Many lupine species (Lupinus ) . Fender's Blue subspecies uses Kincaid's Lupine (Lupinus oreganus var. kincaidii ). Habitat: Mountain meadows and roadsides, subalpine slopes, and occasionally lower elevation meadows (Fender's), always near lupines. Range: All of eastern Oregon, plus central Coast Range, and southern Willamette Valley (ssp. I.i. fenderi ) . Season: Late May to early July Abundance: Common east of Cascade Range, locally common at scattered sites in Willamette Valley. Conservation Status: Fender's Blue listed as Endangered federally.

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Coral Hairstreak butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Beaver Cr, Wasco Co, July 1 Coral Hairstreak Satyrium titus Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Both sexes mousy-brown above. Below, same mousy-brown with median black spot band circled with white. HW below with submarginal band of orange spots edged inwardly with black and white. Similar species: No other Oregon butterfly has submarginal HW row of orange spots against light brown background below. Host plant: Primarily Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana ) . Habitat: Canyons, meadow edges, riparian creek edges. Range: Primarily NE Oregon, also Steens Mtn, Warner Mtns, Klamath Mtns. Season: Late May to early September Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Leanira Checkerspot butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Alvord Basin, Harney Co, May 31 - ssp. basinensis Leanira Checkerspot Chlosyne leanira Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Two distinct subspecies . Ssp. oregonensis is black above, with pale ivory spots, sometimes with red spots on FW tips. Below, FW orange with pale ivory spots, and submarginal band of ivory and black, often with a gap. HW below white with black veins and submarginal band of white spots surrounded by black. Ssp. basinensis is orange above with black veins, submarginal band of pale orange spots. Below similar to oregonensis , with bolder, wider black border to submarginal spot band. Similar species: Below, neither subspecies is similar to other Oregon butterfly species. Above, C. l. oregonensis is similar to some small, dark individuals of Snowberry Checkerspot, note pattern below. Host plant: Paintbrush species (Castilleja ) . Habitat/Range: Ssp oregonensis found in canyons and hillsides near streams in SW Oregon. Ssp. basinensis found in desert hills and sage flats in SE Oregon. Season: Early May to late July Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Pacific Fritillary butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Butte Disappointment, Lane Co, May 24 Pacific Fritillary Boloria selene AKA Western Meadow Fritillary Size: Up to 1.75 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above orange with thin black veins, black scaling near the body, black irregular lines inwardly, and bands of black spots and submarginal chevrons that point toward wing edge. Below HW has cream and orange patches edged in dark brown-orange on inner half, outer half is vague pattern of mauve, lavender, and brownish spots. Similar species: Silver-Bordered has very limited range, bolder black marginal pattern above with submarginal triangles pointing inward, bolder pattern on HW below. Host plant: Violets (Viola ) . Habitat: Meadows and lush open habitats, forest clearings, riparian areas. Range: Found throughout western Oregon, in Klamath Mtns, Warner Mtns, Wallowa Mtns and Blue Mtns. Season: Late March to L 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 California Hairstreak butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Eight Dollar Mountain Rd, Josephine Co, June 4 California Hairstreak Satyrium californica Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Dark gray-brown above. Below, lighter gray-brown with median black spot band lightly edged with white. On HW below, black v-shaped or checkmark-shaped spot next to blue patch below tail. Inner edge of blue patch on hindwing often bordered by orange. HW (and often FW) below has submarginal band of black lines or checks edged outwardly with orange. Similar species: Sylvan HS is generally more lightly marked, lacks the black V-shaped spot next to the blue HW patch (checkmark or dash instead), and orange halos only on two or three submarginal black crescents on HW . Host plant: Primarily Purshia tridentata (Antelope bitterbrush) and Ceanothus velutinus (Snowbrush) . Habitat: Buckbrush scrub, oak woodlands, canyons. Range: East slope of Cascades, most of SE and SW Oregon, Wallowa Mtns. Season: Early May to early September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure