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 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 Lilac-bordered Copper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Mt. Ashland Road, Jackson Co, July 9 - female Lilac-Bordered Copper Tharsalea nivalis AKA Lycaena nivalis Size: 1 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Male above brownish with orange zigzag line on trailing margin. Female above light orange with black spots and borders. HW below two-toned, creamy yellow next to the body, and lilac in the outer half, with vague zigzag orange line (colors brighter in female). Similar species: Purplish lacks distinctive two-toned HW below. Other coppers have white or grayish undersides. Host plant: Knotweeds (Polygonum). Habitat: Mountain meadows, openings in fir and pine forests . Range: All of Oregon's mountains except Coast Range. Season: Mid-May to late August Abundance: Common 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

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Green Comma butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Lost Lake, Linn Co, August 1 Green Comma Polygonia faunus Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above deep orange with black blotches and spots, often with very jagged wing edges, submarginal row of yellow spots on brown to black marginal band. Below striated bands of gray-brown and gray, and prominent curved (not pointed) white comma in center of HW, often barbed on one end. Similar species: Satyr Comma has brown shades below, and barbed white comma on HW. Hoary comma lacks submarginal shading below. Oreas comma has pointed white "v" below. Host plant: Willows, aspen and alders . Habitat: Conifer forest openings, meadows, roadsides. Range: All of western Oregon , plus Warner Mtns, Ochoco Mtns, Wallowa Mtns and Blue Mtns . Season: Late February to late September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

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 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 Compton's Tortoiseshell butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Oregon State Arthropod Collection #0001093061- male Thank you to Dana Ross and Paul Hammond , volunteers at OSAC! Compton Tortoiseshell Nymphalis l-album Size: Up to 3 inch wingspan Key ID features: FW above rusty orange with black patches, dark mustard yellow border and marginal band with black line between. HW brown with broader mustard bands, and white bar at leading edge with dark patches on each side. Below two-toned brown or gray, with darker inner half and lighter striated outer half, blue-gray submarginal band. HW below with flattened silver "v," sometimes reduced or absent. Similar species: Above, white bar on leading edge of HW is unique. Host plant: Birches, willows, and aspens . Habitat: Typically found along streams in forested areas, and in mountain canyons. Range: Wallowa Mtns, and far NE Blue Mtns . Season: Early March to mid-October. Abundance: Scarce, may not breed in Oregon every year. Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Patined Lady butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Marys Peak, Benton Co, August 21 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Size: Up to 3 inch wingspan Key ID features: Larger than other ladies. Above salmon orange with black FW tips with a thick s-curved white bar at the leading edge and a few small white spots. HW above orange with submarginal row of black spots, some 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, wingtip similar to HW. Similar species: American Lady has two large eye spots below. West Coast lady has orange bar at leading edge of FW above (instead of white). Host plant: Thistles (Caruus, Cirsium ), and many others where thistles don't occur . Habitat: Found in every habitat type. Range: Throughout Oregon. Season: Early March to early November Abundance: Abundant in most years. 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 Satyr Comma butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Winberry Cr Rd, Lane Co, March 15 Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus AKA Satyr Anglewing Size: Up to 2.25 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above bright orange with black blotches and spots, jagged wing edges, and dark marginal band, bolder on FW. HW above has yellow patches adjacent to dark marginal band (sometimes missing), and a prominent triangular black spot in the center of the HW. Below jagged bands of striated brown, gray and tan, with prominent white comma mark (tipped on its side) in center of HW, often barbed at both ends. Similar species: Light brown tones below separate this from other comma species. Host plant: Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica ) . Habitat: In riparian areas, forest openings. Range: Throughout Oregon . Season: Late February to early November. Abundance: Common. 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