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

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Dreamy Duskywing butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Box Canyon Meadows, Lane Co, July 9 Dreamy Duskywing Erynnis icelus Size: Up to 1.5 inch wingspan Key ID features: Small for a Duskywing. Males have hump at leading edge of FW. Above, FW gray-brown with frosted band and spots, no hyaline (translucent) spots near FW tip as on other Duskywings. HW plainer gray-brown with vague light spots. Below brown with light spots and pale gray patch near FW tip. Similar species: Other duskywings are larger, and have translucent hyaline spots on FW. Host plant: Willows and aspens. Habitat: Open meadows and road cuts, up to mid-elevations. Range: Siskiyou Mtns, Cascade Range, Blue Mtns, Wallowa Mtns, northern Coast Range. Season: Early April to late July Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Weidemeyer's Admiral butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Arizona Cr, Pueblo Mtns, Harney Co, July 3 Weidemeyer's Admiral Limenitis weidemeyerii Size: Up to 3.5 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above black with broad white band through FW and HW, small white patches near wingtips. Often with submarginal band of small white spots, and sometimes band of slightly larger orange spots just below white band on HW. Below bold white band through both wings, with bands of blue-gray and lavender crescents and dark red-brown patches. Similar species: Superficially similar to Lorquin's Admiral, but lacks orange wingtips of that species. Hybridizes with Lorquin's Admiral, showing mix of traits from both species--see photos of form Friday . Hostplant: Aspen (Populus tremuloides ), Willow ( Salix ) species, and shrubs in the rose family . Habitat: Along or near waterways with willow and aspen. Range: Found in Pueblo Mtns, Trout Cr Mtns, and Owyhee canyons in SE Oregon. Season: Early June to late September. Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Directory with photos and links for all of Oregon's butterflies in the swallowtail, white and sulphur families. Swallowtails, Whites & Sulphurs Click photo for more details Clodius Parnassian Parnassius clodius Western Tiger Swallowtail Papilio rutulus Western Sulphur Colias occidentalis Julia's Orangetip Anthocharis julia Pine White Neophasia menapia Checkered White Pontia protodice Mountain Parnassian Parnassius smintheus Pale Swallowtail Papilio eurymedon Queen Alexandra's Sulphur Colias alexandra Gray Marble Anthocharis lanceolata Mustard White Pieris marginalis Western White Pontia occidentalis Oregon Swallowtail Papilio machaon Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata Pelidne Sulphur Colias pelidne Large Marble Euchloe ausonides Cabbage White Pieris rapae Anise Swallowtail Papilio zelicaon Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice Pink-Edged Sulphur Colias interior California Marble Euchloe hyantis Becker's White Pontia beckerii Indra Swallowtail Papilio indra Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme Sara's Orangetip Anthocharis sara Desert Marble Euchloe lotta Spring White Pontia sisymbrii

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Lorquin's Admiral butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Buford Park, Lane Co, June 16 Lorquin's Admiral Limenitis lorquini Size: Up to 3 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above black with broad white band through FW and HW, prominent orange patches at wingtips. Below bands of red-brown, white and black crossed by black veins. Similar species: Superficially similar to Weidemeyer's Admiral, which lacks orange wingtips. California Sister is dark brown above, and orange patches on FW are separated from wing tip. Host plant: Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor ), willow species (Salix ), rose family shrubs and others . Habitat: Can appear in any habitat that contains one of its host plants. Range: Throughout Oregon. Season: Mid-February to early October. Abundance: Abundant Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the California Tortoiseshell butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Buford Park, Lane Co, June 2 California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica Size: Up to 2.5 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above bright orange with black and white patches on the leading edge of FW, a few smaller black spots on FW, and dark border on FW and HW. Below striated two-toned with darker inner half and brown outer half with darker margin, and often a dark gray-blue submarginal line. Similar species: Above, Milbert's dark basally with bright orange rim. Below, Milbert's Tortoiseshell more distinctly two-toned, outer band lighter, more variable and more gray than brown. Host plant: Ceanothus species include snowbrush (C. velutinus ), deerbrush (C. integerrimus ) . Habitat: While dispersing, may be found in any habitat, including in the middle of urban areas. Otherwise in mountain slopes, canyons, meadows, riversides, road edges and shorelines. Range: Throughout Oregon . Season: Late January to early December. Abundance: Common, abundant in some years. Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the American Copper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Oregon State Arthropod Collection #0000819569 - male Thank you to Dana Ross and Paul Hammond , volunteers at OSAC! American Copper Lycaena hypophlaeas Size: 0.75- 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Above FW coppery orange with black spots and dark brown borders. Above HW gray-brown with wide orange band along most of trailing margin. Below HW gray with black spots, orange wavy submarginal line. Similar species: Upperside is unlike any other copper. Separated from Purplish Copper by location and habitat. Host plant: Suspected to be Mountain Sorrel (Oxyria digyna) . Habitat: Steep high-elevation talus slopes. Range: High peaks in the Wallowa Mtns. Season: Mid-August to mid-September Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Hoffman's Checkerspot butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Bachelor Mtn, Linn Co, July 13 Hoffmann's Checkerspot Chlosyne hoffmanni Size: 1.25 to 1.75 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above, bands of orange and yellow-orange, separated by black lines and patches . Median band usually lighter. Basal 1/3 of HW above is mostly black with little orange. Below bands of off-white and brick red with black veins and edges. Red spots in postmedian band often longer than in similar species. Similar species: Northern Checkerspot often does not have the large black area on the basal HW above, and below post-median band spots are generally shorter than in Hoffman's. On Northern Checkerspot, the orange patches on the dorsal forewing are more distinct and smaller. On Hoffmann's, the orange bars in the middle of the forewing are much longer, and often have a "smeared" look, a gradient of shades of orange. Hostplant: Asters, including western showy aster (Eurybia conspicua ) and Cascade aster (Eucephalus ledophyllus ) . Habitat: Moist montane meadows, canyons, streamsides, clearings in conifer forests. Range: Cascade Range above 1000 feet. 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 Common Alpine. Gallery Prev Next Coyle Cr Rd, Crook Co, June 29 Common Alpine Erebia epipsodea AKA Butler's Alpine Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above very dark brown with orange patches containing small black eyespots with white centers--two closely spaced eyespots and sometime two or more additional smaller eyespots on FW, three to five eyespots on HW. Below similar to above, but with HW having a slightly grizzled or rough look compared to clean dark brown above. Similar species: None. Host plant: Grasses including Foxtail bristlegrass (Setaria italica ) . Habitat: Grassy habitats including sage-steppe, plateaus, montane meadows and dry hillsides. Range: Northeastern Oregon in Ochoco Mtns, Wallowa Mtns, Blue Mtns. Season: Early May to early August Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Northwestern Fritillary butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Frissell Ridge, Lane Co, July 17 Northwestern Fritillary Argynnis hesperis AKA Hesperis Fritillary AKA Speyeria hesperis Size: Up to 2.5 inch wingspan Key ID features: Medium 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, bolder on female. Below ground color of "disc" on HW deep reddish to chocolate brown, with creamy to white elongated oval spots, and a distinct submarginal band of warm or pinkish tan, crossed by dark veins. Often with yellowish-tan "spashes" or rays within the discal area. The cream spot in the middle of the bottom of the ventral hindwing is usually "smeared" toward the outer edge. Similar species: Hydaspe has a submarginal band that is more pinkish and often less distinct, and the cream-colored spot on the bottom edge of the ventral hindwing is small and not smeared toward the outer edge. Host plant: Violet (Viola ) species . Habitat: Openings, riparian areas and meadows in pine and fir forests. Range: Found in central and southern Cascades, Siskiyou, Ochoco, Strawberry, Wallowa and Warner 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 Bramble Hairstreak butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Meadow Cr, Jefferson Co, May 9 Bramble Hairstreak Callophrys dumetorum AKA Bramble Green Hairstreak Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Above both sexes light brown. Below bright grass-green, sometimes with broken white median line on HW. Below, green on FW restricted to the leading 1/3. Perches on shrubs or grasses, rarely on ground. Similar species: Sheridan's perches on the ground, range of Western Green typically does not overlap. Host plant: Lotus crassisfolius, Lotus nevadensis var. douglasii . Habitat: Openings in Douglas-fir and Ponderosa pine forests, along road cuts and powerline corridors. Range: North Coast Range, Western Cascades, NE Cascades, Siskiyou Mtns, Warner Mtns. Season: Late March to mid-July Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Sandhill Skipper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Boardman, Morrow Co, August 26 Sandhill Skipper Polites sabuleti Size: Up to 1.2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above, male light orange with toothed dark brown edges, black stigmata . Above, female is dark brown with light orange spots. FW below dark brown with mustard yellow patches. HW below tan with irregular light bands shot through with light veins giving webbed look. Similar species: HW pattern below is somewhat similar to Uncas and Lindsey's. Uncas has grayish green ground color below. Lindsey's is larger and has smaller light bands and patches below. Host plant: Grass species, Kentucky bluegrass, saltgrass, and bromes. Habitat: Lawns, parks, ditch banks, alkali flats, sage flats. Range: Eastern Oregon and southern Cascade Range. Season: Early May to late October Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure