top of page

Search this site

181 results found with an empty search

  • Field Crescent | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Field Crescent butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Ditch Cr, Morrow Co, September 5 - male Field Crescent Phyciodes pulchella Size: Up to 1 inch wingspan Key ID features: Male above, dark overall, with orange and light orange spots surrounded by black, HW with submarginal band of small black dots circled with orange. Male HW below cream, tan and brown bands and patches, and inconspicuous marginal crescent below midpoint. Female with larger orange and yellow spots, with a near rectangular pale orange vertical bar in FW cell, at leading margin. Female below white with brown patches and irregular red-brown lines, bright submarginal white crescent with brown on both sides. Similar species: Female Northern Crescent lacks light bar in cell at leading edge of FW above. California Crescent has slight indent in FW margin. Host plant: Aster species, including western showy aster (Eurybia conspicua ) and Cascade aster (Eucephalus ledophyllus ) . Habitat: Mountain meadows, seeps, roadsides, forest edges, lowland prairies. Range: Willamette Vallley, Cascade Range, Siskiyou and Klamath Mtns, Steens Mtn, Ochocos, Wallowa Mtns and Blue Mtns. Season: Mid-May to late September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

  • Zerene Fritillary | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Zerene Fritillary butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Mt. Hebo, Tillamook Co, August 13, ssp. hippolyta Zerene Fritillary Argynnis zerene AKA Speyeria zerene Size: Up to 2.75 inch wingspan Key ID features: Orange above with thin black veins, black shading near the body, black irregular lines inwardly, submarginal black spot band and black marking along margin like chain links, bolder on female. Variable below depending on subspecies and location. Often with light tan-brown "disc" on HW with large silvery-white oval spots and warm tan submarginal band. Can also have pinkish/purplish hindwing below, with smaller discal spots than Hydaspe. Similar species: Coronis Fritillary is usually paler above and larger. Callippe Fritillary has more elongated silver spots in the disc below. Hydaspe has larger, more rounded discal spots. Host plant: Violet (Viola ) species, varying by region of state . Habitat: Varies greatly by subspecies, from coastal headlands, to grassy summits, riparian areas and meadows. Range: Throughout mountainous areas of eastern and southwestern Oregon. Season: Early June to late September. Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Coastal subspecies S. z. hippolyta critically imperiled in OR, Federally listed as Threatened.

  • Leanira Checkerspot | ButterfliesofOregon

    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

  • Pale Swallowtail | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Pale Swallowtail butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Hat Point Rd, Wallowa Co, June 25 Pale Swallowtail Papilio eurymedon Size: 2.75 - 3.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Above pale, yellowish white with vertical bands of black on forewing, long single tails, blue chevrons on black band near hindwing margin. Similar pattern below, with red-orange shading in ivory marginal spots near the tail. Similar species: Western Tiger Swallowtail is brighter yellow and has slightly narrower black bands on forewing Host plant: Many shrubs and small trees including ceanothus, alder, cascara, and buckthorn. Habitat: Can be found in any forest or shrubby habitat, and especially on ridges, along roads and in riparian corridors Range: Throughout western Oregon, and in Ochoco Mtns, Strawberry Mtns, Blue Mtns, Wallowa Mtns. Season: Mid-April - early October Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

  • Great Spangled Fritillary | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Izee Rd Meadow, Grant Co, July 1 - male Great Spangled Fritillary Argynnis cybele AKA Speyeria cybele Size: Up to 3 inch wingspan Key ID features: Male orange above with thin black veins, black shading near the body, black irregular lines inwardly, and bands of black spots and chevrons near wing edge. Female striking white to cream above with similar black markings as male. Below male has dark orange "disc" on HW with silvery-white spots and warm tan submarginal band. Below female has dark brown disc with silvery-white spots and tan to ivory submarginal band. Similar species: Female Great Spangled is unmistakable. Male has lighter black markings above along wing edge than other greater fritillaries, and silver spots on HW disc below are much smaller in proportion to size of disc (disc looks more empty) in comparison. Host plant: Violets (Viola ) especially Viola glabella (stream violet) . Habitat: Open meadows, openings in oak-pine forest, lower slopes of mountains in eastern Oregon. Range: Western and southwestern Oregon, Ochoco Mtns, Blue Mtns, Wallowa Mtns, Warner Mtns, Steens Mtn, Mt Jefferson area. Season: Early June to early October. Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure .

  • Gray Marble | ButterfliesofOregon

    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

  • Ruddy Copper | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Ruddy Copper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Williams Prairie, Crook Co, July 26 - male Ruddy Copper Tharsalea rubidus AKA Lycaena rubidus Size: 1.1 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Male above very bright coppery orange, with few small dark spots . Female above brownish gray orange with black spots, and submarginal spot band, often with orange submarginal zigzag line. Female HW below white with orange wash with very light spots; FW below light orange with black spots. Male similar below with lighter ground color. Similar species: No other Oregon butterfly is as bright orange as the male. Female somewhat similar to Blue Copper, which lacks the orange zigzag above and the orange wash below. Host plant: Dock (Rumex ) species. Habitat: Riparian habitast (near water), including wet montane meadows. Range: Southeastern Oregon, and east of Cascade Mtns from Ochoco Mtns south. Season: Mid-May to late August Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

  • Bauer's Blue | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Bauer's Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Alvord Basin, Harney Co, May 29 Bauer's Blue Euphilotes baueri Size: Up to 0.85 inch wingspan Key ID features: Small. Male blue above with narrow dark wing borders, little or no orange along trailing edge of HW. Female dark brown above with prominent orange zigzag along trailing margin. Both sexes have checked fringe on FW. Below bluish-gray with bold black spots, larger on FW, and orange submarginal line edged in black on HW, sometimes as separate spots. Similar species: Best told from other Euphilotes blues by host-plant association, location and flight period. Host plant: Eriogonum ovalifolium (cushion buckwheat). Habitat: Arid deserts with host plant cushion buckwheat. Range: Eastern Harney County, and area around Brothers, Oregon . Season: Early May to early June Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

  • Boiduval's Blue | ButterfliesofOregon

    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.

  • Becker's White | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Becker's White butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Summer Lake, Lake County, August 5 Becker's White Pontia beckerii Size: 1.5 - 2.0 inches wingspan Key ID features: Above, white with black markings near tip of forewing. Below, bold greenish borders along veins especially on hindwing. Similar species: Western White is smaller and much less green along veins below. Host plant: A large number of arid land mustards. Habitat: Arid habitats, both disturbed and undisturbed. Range: Primarily east of the Cascade Mtns, with a few records in the Willamette Valley. Season: Mid-March to mid-September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

  • Cedar Hairstreak | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Cedar Haristreak butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Upper Klamath River, Klamath Co, May 29 Cedar/Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Found near cedar or juniper trees . Above, gray-brown or reddish brown, sometimes with redder patches near tails. Below, shades of brown, gray, and violet, with white postmedian line that varies from bold to nearly absent. Blue submarginal ("thecla") patches near tails vary in size and brightness, but usually lacking orange. Similar species: Johnson's Hairstreak is darker shade of brown, postmedian white line is bolder with a more pronounced "M" on the HW, and generally only found in and near old growth forest. Host plant: Western redcedar (Thuja plicata ), incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens ) and western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis ). Habitat: Roadsides, meadows, riparian zones, forest edges and clearings near the host plant. Range: Most of Oregon, but missing from most of Coast Range, Blue Mtns, Wallowas and Malheur County. Season: Late March to early August Abundance: Abundant Conservation Status: Secure

  • Eastern Tailed Blue | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Eastern Tailed Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Doral View Little Groundhog Mtn, Lane Co, July 22 - female Eastern Tailed-Blue Cupido comyntas Size: 0.75 - 1.0 inches wingspan Key ID features: Male bright blue above, female dark gray or gray-brown, with coppery-green iridescence when fresh. HW with white fringe and marginal band of black spots with gray borders. Below, gray or bluish-gray, with black spots rimmed with white, variable marginal band of spots and chevrons, orange patches next to small white-tipped tails. Usually shows black cell-end bar on FW above and below. Similar species: Western Tailed-Blue tends to be whiter below and usually lacks black cell end bar on the FW above. Host plant: Many species in the pea family including lupines, vetches and clovers . Habitat: Often in weedy, disturbed habitats, but also in native wet meadows and riparian areas. Range: West of the Cascade Range, Wallowa Mtns and NE Blue Mtns. Season: Early April to early August Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

© 2018-25 by Neil Henning Björklund

bottom of page