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Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Northern Cloudywing butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Staly Creek, Lane Co, June 25 Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades AKA Cecropterus pylades Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above very dark brown with a few narrow white bars and spots on FW. Bars and spots translucent. Below similar to above, dark brown with with a few narrow tan or off-white bars and spots on FW. Similar species: Western Cloudywing flies notably faster, perches on rocks, has shorter white sub-cell bar in FW. Host plant: Many legume species, but often associated with Lotus crassifolius in Oregon . Habitat: Canyons, clearings and flowery flatlands. Range: Cascade Range, Eastern Blue Mtns, Wallowa Mtns, Siskiyou Mtns, Klamath Mtns, Warner Mtns. Season: Late April to mid-July Abundance: Common 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 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

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Mourning Cloak butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Big Summit Prairie, Crook Co, June 19 Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa Size: Up to 3 inch wingspan and larger Key ID features: Large. Above deep maroon edged with black band with blue spots, and cream to golden marginal band with dark mottling. Below nearly black with striations and tan specks, pale tan submarginal band. Similar species: Above, unlike any other Oregon species. California Tortoiseshell orange and black above, below is more complexly marked and shaded. Milbert's Tortoiseshell is smaller, orange bands above, and below broad band of striated brown in outer half. Host plant: Willows, and many other shrubs and trees including alder, maple, poplar, spiraea . Habitat: In riparian areas, and other openings, usually near water. Range: Throughout Oregon . Season: Early May to mid-October. Abundance: Common. Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Sonoran Skipper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Summit Meadows, LaneCo, August 13 Sonoran Skipper Polites sonora Size: Up to 1.25 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above orangish-brown, with darker reddish brown border, and vague light spot band on HW. Males with black stigmata with adjacent dark patches on FW, female FW with dark patch surrounded by yellowish spots. HW below brown with arc of pale yellow bars forming a curved band, and an elongated light spot near wing base . HW bars somewhat rounded with indistinct edges. Similar species: HW pattern below is somewhat similar to Mardon Skipper, which has shorter, broader wings and HW spots that are angular and more distinct. Host plant: Various grass species. Habitat: Flowery meadows and pastures, forest openings, roadsides, streambanks. Range: Cascade Range, Siskiyou Mtns, Klamath Mtns, Warner Mtns, Ochoco Mtns, Blue Mtns, Wallowa Mtns, Willamette Valley. 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 Northern White Skipper. Gallery Prev Next Baldy Cr Rd, Jackson Co, June 28 (new county record) - male Northern White Skipper Heliopetes ericetorum Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above pearly-white, with "chains" of dark brown chevrons along wing margins, light on males, bolder and more extensive on females . Below white with irregular vague bands of light tan, pinkish brown or mustard. Similar species: No other similar species in Oregon. Host plant: Various species in the globemallow family. Habitat: Various habitats in arid areas including riverbanks, canyons, roadsides, lower elevation forest openings, weedy fields and alfalfa fields. Range: Primarily Columbia, Deschutes, Snake River and Owyhee river basins, but also recent records in southern Lake and Jackson counties. Season: Early May to early October Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Woodland Skipper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Frissell Ridge, Lane Co, July 18 Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides Size: Up to 1 inch wingspan Key ID features: Highly variable. Above orange, with dark brown, "toothy" borders, less distinct on HW. HW with large orange patch bordered by dark brown. Male above with narrow black stigmata, forming part of dark diagonal band running from wing base to FW tip. Female above also has dark diagonal band, with dark patch replacing stigmata . Below HW light yellowish brown usually with "folded" band of connected light spots (sometimes bold, sometimes barely visible or missing). Similar species: Sachem and Juba Skipper fly at the same time but are larger. Yuma Skipper is plain above and below. Juba Skipper has green gray ground color below with bold white spot bands. Host plant: Various grass species. Habitat: Any open grassy habitat. Range: A ll of Oregon. Season: Mid-June to early October Abundance: Common to abundant Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Hoary Comma butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Lost Lake, Linn Co, August 28 Hoary Comma Polygonia gracilis Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above orange with black blotches and spots, often with very jagged wing edges, submarginal row of yellow chevrons and brown to black marginal band. HW above has yellow gilded look, with yellow patches within dark orange marginal band. Below dark gray with lighter gray striations, and prominent curved (not sharply pointed) white comma in center of HW. Similar species: Satyr Comma has brown shades below, and barbed white comma on HW. Green comma has green submarginal shading below. Oreas comma has pointed white "v" below. Host plant: Currant species (Ribes ), and Rhododendron albiflorum (white azalea) . Habitat: Forest openings, riparian areas, subalpine meadows, mostly above 3,000 feet. Range: Coast Range, Willamette Valley, Western Cascades, east slope of Cascades, Blue Mtns . Season: Early February to mid-October Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Common Sootywing butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Jones Canyon, Wasco County, May 4 Common Sootywing Pholisora catullus Size: Up to 1.25 inch wingspan Key ID features: Small. Above very dark brown to black with several small white spots near FW wingtip, row of tiny submarginal white spots on FW and HW. Below deep brown-black with a few white spots near the tip of the FW. Head mostly white. Similar species: Common Roadside Skipper is browner, with checked wing fringes. Dun Skipper much lighter, lacks white FW spots above and below. Host plant: Weedy species in the goosefoot family, such as lamb's quarters, goosefoot, pigweed, etc . Habitat: Disturbed weedy areas, shrub desert, alkali flats, and along waterways. Range: In north half of state, east of the Cascade Range and north of Crook County. In south half of state, east of Lake County. Season: Late March to early September 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 Sooty Hairstreak butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Mt. Ashland Rd, Jackson Co, July 9 Sooty Hairstreak Satyrium fuliginosa AKA Western Sooty Hairstreak Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Both sexes dull gray-brown above and below. Below, dull gray-brown with pale median spot band. No tails. Similar species: Range does not overlap with closely related Half-Moon Hairstreak. Host plant: Lupines (Lupinus ) . Habitat: Rocky outcroppings, mountain slopes, ridges and peaks, often with sagebrush. Range: Along the border with California in Jackson and Josephine counties. Season: Mid-June to mid-August Abundance: Uncommon 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