Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Edith's Copper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Bristow Prairie, Lane Co, July 8 - female Edith's Copper Tharsalea editha AKA Lycaena editha Size: 1.1 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Female above gray-brown with black spots and orange "arches" along upper HW trailing margin. Male above gray, with only a few small spots along HW trailing margin. Below HW grayish brown with brown spots outlined with darker brown, and submarginal white band. Female with darker, bolder spots on VFW and bolder orange line along VHW trailing margin. Similar species: Great Copper is larger, dorsal ground color often lighter, and HW spots smaller and further apart. Great Copper also often has a more noticeable tail. Tailed Copper has a prominent tail. Host plant: Dock (Rumex ) species and Knotweeds (Polygonum ). Habitat: Meadows, open areas along streams, roadsides. Range: Widespread in Siskiyou Mtns, Klamath Mtns, Warner Mtns, Southern Cascade Mtns, Ochoco Mtns, Blue Mtns. Wallowa Mtns. Season: Mid-June to early September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Half-moon Hairstreak butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Three Creeks Lake, Deschutes Co, August 6 Half-Moon Hairstreak Satyrium semiluna AKA Sagebrush Sooty Hairstreak Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Both sexes dull gray above and below. Below, median band of small dark spots with white halos, and submarginal band of black spots with halos. No tails. Similar species: May be confused with a female Boisduval's blue, which has some blue below (Half-moon has no blue), white fringes, and usually one to three black basal spots on HW below. Range does not overlap with closely related Sooty Hairstreak. Host plant: Lupines (Lupinus ) . Habitat: Subalpine meadows, high ridges, sage steppe, open slopes. Range: East of the Cascades except Columbia basin in Gilliam, Morrow and Umatilla counties. Season: Mid-May to early September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Hoary Elfin butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Undisclosed location, western Oregon Hoary Elfin Callophrys polios Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Above both sexes gray-brown. Below shades of dark brown. Light white median line, stronger on FW, with strong "frosted" look between HW median line and HW margin. No tails. Similar species: Moss's Elfin lacks strong frosted look between trailing margin and postmedian line. Hostplant: Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ) . Habitat: Open rocky areas in mountains, coastal bluffs and dunes, forest roadsides, always close to Kinnikinnick. Range: Isolated populations in Blue Mtns, coastal Lincoln and Curry counties, and in Linn, Morrow and Wallowa counties. Season: L ate April to late May Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Coastal subspecies C. polios maritima is imperiled in OR

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Juba Skipper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Rd 23, Lane Co, June 16 Juba Skipper Hesperia juba Size: Up to 1.5 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above, male brownish orange with jagged line of light orange spots, dark brown edges, like teeth pointing inward, dark stigmata. Above female brown with jagged row of light orange spots, some almost white spots near wing tip, also with dark brown edges, like teeth pointing inward . Below greenish gray with disjointed white bands, lowest patch of white on outer band displaced inwardly (but not as strongly as Nevada Skipper). Similar species: On HW below Nevada Skipper has the lowest segment of the outer white spot band more strongly offset. Host plant: Bunchgrass species. Habitat: Sage habitats, roadsides, dry woodland openings. Range: All of Oregon except north Coast Range and coast. Season: Mid-April to early October Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Anise Swallowtail butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Hat Point Road, Wallowa Co, June 28 Anise Swallowtail Papilio zelicaon Size: 2.5 - 3.0 inches wingspan Key ID features: Black with broad buttery yellow bands, twisted tails, black abdomen with narrow yellow side-stripes. Below similar pattern, with paler yellow ground color and reddish-orange halos on some of the black-bordered blue chevrons. Similar species: Oregon Swallowtail, which is larger, more lemony yellow, abdomen yellow with narrow black stripe on top and bottom. On Anise, black spot inside red spot near tail is in the middle of the red, whereas on the Oregon Swallowtail, its on the edge of the red. Host plant: Many species in the parsley family, including many native Lomatium species. Habitat: Variety of open areas, including wetlands, dunes, mountaintops, roadsides, and disturbed areas Range: Throughout Oregon. Season: Late February - mid-September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Western Pygmy Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Umatilla NWR, Umatilla Co, September 4 Western Pygmy Blue Brephidium exilis Size: 0.5 - 0.75 inches wingspan Key ID features: Very small. Dark orangey-brown above, sometimes with blue patches next to body. HW above with white fringe and indistinct, variable submarginal band of blackish spots. FW below, disjointed white lines on orange-brown background. HW below with brown or blue bands edged in white, and marginal row of bold black spots with metallic blue or silver centers next to submarginal white band. Similar species: No similar species in Oregon. Host plant: Various species in the pigweed family, including Saltbush (Atriplex), Pigweed (chenopodium) and Russian thistle (Salsola kali) . Habitat: Desert lowlands and flats, including disturbed areas. Range: Primarily SE Oregon in Lake, Harney and Malheur counties, but expands north in some years. Season: Mid-July to late September Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Hydaspe Fritillary butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Catherine Cr Rd, Wallowa Co, July 8 Hydaspe Fritillary Argynnis hydaspe AKA Speyeria hydaspe Size: Up to 2.25 inch wingspan Key ID features: Male deep orange above with black veins, black shading near the body, black irregular lines inwardly, submarginal black spot band and black marking along margin like chain links. Female dark orange above with all black markings bolder. Below ground color of "disc" on HW usually deep maroon to purplish-brown, with creamy to white oval spots, and a submarginal pink or pinkish band, often vague or missing. Similar species: Hesperis has more reddish brown color below, and submarginal band is less pink, more distinct and usually crossed with bold veins. Zerene can have similar coloration, but would have smaller discal spots and more flattened marginal spots. Host plant: Violet (Viola ) species . Habitat: Openings, riparian areas and meadows in coniferous forests. Range: Found throughout Cascades and western Oregon, and in Klamath, Warner, Siskiyou, Ochoco, Wallowa and Blue 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 Rural Skipper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Grave Creek Bridge, Josephine Co, June 29 Rural Skipper Ochlodes agricola Size: Up to 1 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above, small, tan-orange with graduated dark border . Male with black stigmata on FW, female with black patch in same location. HW below plain orange-tan in male, plain purplish brown in female which has vague lighter patches. Similar species: Unmarked orange-tan HW below on male distinct within its range. Host plant: Various grass species. Habitat: Forest edges and openings, riparian areas. Range: Josephine, Curry and Coos counties, small area along CA border at Jackson County/Josephine County border. Season: Late May to late July Abundance: Locally common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the West Coast Lady butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Wolf Mtn Rd, Lane Co, September 10 West Coast Lady Vanessa annabella Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Smaller than other ladies. Above bright orange with black FW tips with a thick vertical orange bar at the leading edge and a few small white spots near the wing tip. HW above orange with submarginal row of black spots with blue centers. Below, HW brown with submarginal row of four small eye spots, and web of white lines and white patches. FW below has bright salmon orange crossed by black in lower 2/3, upper 1/3 similar to HW. Similar species: American Lady has two large eye spots below. Painted Lady is larger, has white bar at leading edge of FW above instead of orange. Hostplant: Many species in the mallow family including streambank globe-mallow, checkermallow and others . Habitat: Flowery meadows, roadsides, and gardens. Range: Throughout Oregon except in Malheur County . Season: E arly March to mid-November. Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the California Crescent butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Lincoln Cr Rd, Jackson Co, May 20 California Crescent Phyciodes orseis Size: Up to 1.5 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above, rows of orange and light orange spots separated by black. FW margin slightly indented. HW above with submarginal band of small black dots circled with orange. Below, bands of orange, cream and white with brown patches, postmedian yellow-tan band with small brown dots . Knobs on anntennae mostly orange. Similar species: Range does not overlap with Pale Crescent, P. orseis is larger than Field or Mylitta. Host plant: Thistles including Cirsium cymosum and C. andersonii . Habitat: Dry hillsides, streamsides and canyons. Range: Southern Siskiyou Mtns, Warner Mtns . Season: Late March to early August Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Here you will find the additional online resources for butterflies in Oregon and Lane County. Resources - Online Northwest Butterflies Caitlin Labar's lovely and informative website on the butterflies of Oregon and Washington. Visit and you will learn a lot! Butterflies of America A comprehensive guide to the butterflies of North, Central and South America. Photos of pinned specimens and some live butterfly species, covering all described species and recognized taxa including subspecies. Very helpful for our Greater Fritillaries here in Oregon (Speyeria sp.). Lane County Butterfly Club (Chapter of NABA) The new website for the only Oregon chapter of the North American Butterfly Association. Find out about their series of presentations in winter, their summer field trips, butterfly counts and other activities. Washington Butterfly Association Facebook page for the large and lively state of Washington Butterfly Association. Keep up to date on their presentations in winter and their field trips in summer, and other activities. Oregon Zoo: Taylor's Checkerspot A webpage describing how the Oregon Zoo is contributing to the conservation of this endangered Northwest butterfly. Conserving Oregon Monarchs Learn about the State of Oregon's plan for conserving Monarchs in Oregon. Oregon Silverspot Butterfly Visit the US Fish and Wildlife Service's page on the endangered Oregon Silverspot. Fender's Blue Visit the US Fish and Wildlife Service's page on the endangered Fender's Blue. Conservation of Prairie-Oak Butterflies in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia Online article about conservation status and measures for Fender's blue (Icaricia icarioides fenderi ), Taylor's checkerspot (Euphydryas editha taylori ), Mardon skipper (Polites mardon ), island marble (Euchloe ausonides insulanus) , and Oregon silverspot (Speyeria zerene hippolyta ), and a brief review of 10 additional at-risk butterfly species in the ecoregion. Xerces Society Get plugged in to the first and foremost conservation organization for butterflies and other invertebrates. They do great work in education, advocacy, and conservation planning. Please support them!

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Sara Orangetip butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Little Groundhog Mtn, Lane Co, July 8 - male Julia's Orangetip Anthocharis julia AKA Julia Orangetip Size: 1.25 - 1.5 inches wingspan Key ID features: Male white above, with bold orange FW tip. Female pale yellow-green above with smaller orange patch near FW tip. Below patchy marbling with light yellow veins. Similar species: Sara's Orangetip, which occurs only along the California border is very similar and difficult to distinguish in the field where they overlap. The two species are distinguished by several characteristics, including larval characteristics, number of overwintering cycles, and shape and color of the chrysalis. Host plant: Crucifers including several rockcresses. Habitat: Wide variety of open habitats. Range: Found throughout Oregon. Season: Mid-March to mid-August Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure