Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Western Pine Elfin butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Meadow Cr, Jefferson Co, May 29 Western Pine Elfin Callophrys eryphon Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Above both sexes dark chocolate brown. Very distinctive pattern of zigzags on HW below, in black, browns and lavenders, with thin white median line. HW has submarginal light frosted line. Checked fringes, no tails. Similar species: Pattern below not likely to be confused with other elfin species. Hostplant: Ponderosa, Lodgepole and other species of pine (Pinus ) . Habitat: Primarily in clearings in Ponderosa pine forest, also in Lodgepole pine forests and Shore pine stands. Range: Cascade Range, Siskiyou Mtns, Ochoco Mtns, Klamath Mtns, Blue Mtns, and narrow band along the coast. Season: Late February to late 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 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 Persius Duskywing butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Eight Dollar Rd, Josephine Co, June 5 Persius Duskywing Erynnis persius Size: Up to 1.5 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above, FW gray-brown with indistinct gray markings and 3-5 tiny hyaline (glassy, translucent) spots on FW. Female FW usually more boldly patterned, but less so than Propertius. HW gray-brown with vague light spots. Below dark brown with light spots and hyaline spots on FW, small vague spots on HW. Similar species: Propertius is larger, and usually more strongly marked. When fresh, Pacuvius has brown patches on FW, otherwise look for tibial tufts on hindlegs (Persius has them, Pacuvius does not). Host plant: Pea family species, including lupines (Lupinus ), Thermopsis , Astragalus , and Lotus . Habitat: Open sunny meadows, roadsides and hillsides. Range: Cascade Range, Willamette Valley, much of Coast Range, Ochoco Mtns, Blue Mtns, Wallowa Mtns, Siskiyou Mtns, Klamath Mtns. Season: Mid-April to mid-August Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Silvery Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next W Boundary Rd, Lane Co, April 28, male Silvery Blue Glaucopsyche lygdamus Size: 1.0 - 1.2 inches wingspan Key ID features: Male brilliant silvery-blue above, with narrow dark wing borders, white fringes, often with marginal row of small black spots. Female gray-brown with some blue scaling. Below gray or blue-gray, with bold median row of round black spots with white rims, and lighter discal cell end bars on FW and HW. Similar species: Boisduval's Blue has variable submarginal markings on HW and FW below. Host plant: Lupine species (Lupinus ). Habitat: Moist, open areas near lakes, streams and wetlands. Range: All of Oregon except north coast. Season: Mid-March to early September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Mormon Metalmark butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Trout Cr Campground, Jefferson Co, Sep 2 Mormon Metalmark Apodemia mormo Size: 1.0 - 1.2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Males above dark charcoal gray with reddish brown on the FW, and white spots of various shapes, broadly checked wing fringes. Female above similar but darker overall. Below HW with bold white patches against dark brown. FW mirrors pattern of FW above. Similar species: Looks vaguely similar to a copper, but none closely resembles it. Host plant: Many buckwheat species (Eriogonum ) . Habitat: Arid canyons and flats. Range: West of the Cascades, in Columbia and Snake River drainages, and along California border in Klamath and Warner Mtns, and in Cascade-Siskiyou NM. Season: Late July to early October Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for Common Ringlet. Gallery Prev Next Jones Canyon, Sherman Co, May 2 Common Ringlet Coenonympha california AKA Ochre Ringlet AKA Coenonympha tullia Size: Up to 1.5 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above plain creamy tan, sometimes peachy orange tan or whitish tan . Below dusky tan to yellowish tan, sometimes with light eye spots, and irregular light bands. Similar species: No similar species in Oregon. Host plant: Both native and non-native grasses and sedges . Habitat: Grassy habitats of all types. Range: All of Oregon except portions of central and northern coast and coast range. Season: Late March to late October Abundance: Very common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Golden Hairstreak butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Lost Lake, Linn Co, August 19 Golden Hairstreak Habrodais grunus Size: 1 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Above golden brown with darker edges on FW. Below tan with indistinct brown bands. Short tails on HW. Similar species: There are no similar hairstreaks in Oregon. Host plant: Golden Chinkapin (Chrysolepis chrysophylla ). Habitat: Dry sunny slopes with Chinkapin. Range: Cascade Range, Siskiyou Mtns, Klamath Mtns. Season: Early July to late September Abundance: Locally common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Checkered White butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Lost Lake, Linn Co, August 26 - male Checkered White Pontia protodice Size: 1.5 - 2.0 inches wingspan Key ID features: Extremely variable and challenging to ID with certainty. Above, white with black, brown or charcoal checks, bars or chevrons. Below yellow-veined with brown or olive chevron marks. Similar species: Western White has darker and more extensive DFW markings and, and bolder yellow-green markings on the VHW, especially along veins. On Western White males, the gray triangles along the FW tip usually are joined to each other, while on Checkered White they are often separate. Pattern of veins on the forewing also differ as seen here . DFW markings in female Checkered Whites are often more extensive and brownish gray. Host plant: A wide variety of both weedy and native cruciferous species. Habitat: Arid habitats, both disturbed and undisturbed. Range: Primarily in southeast Oregon and east of Cascade Mtns, with scattered records in the Willamette Valley and Coast Range. Season: Earl June to late September Abundance: Uncommon in Oregon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Red Admiral butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Sand Cr, Klamath Co, June 25 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta AKA Red Admirable Size: Up to 2.5 inch wingspan Key ID features: Unmistakable. Above black with red-orange band across FW, and white bar and spots near FW tip. HW above black with orange-red marginal band with small black spots and two black ringed blue spots at the anal angle. HW below a mosaic of brown, gray and black, with a thin paleblue submarginal line. FW below bold pinkish orange band as above, below band mostly black, above band black with white bar and spots and blue ring, wingtip mottled grays and browns with small spots. Similar species: Unlike any other species. Hostplant: Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica ) . Habitat: May be found in any habitat. Range: Throughout Oregon . Season: Any time of year, but mostly May to October. Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the California Sister butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Hills Cr Rd, Lane Co, Aug 27 California Sister Adelpha californica Size: Up to 3.5 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above dark brown with narrow white band through FW and HW, thinning toward the end of the abdomen, prominent orange patches near wingtips, separated from wingtip by brown margin. Below bands of orange, white and pale lavender, not crossed by black veins. Similar species: Similar to Lorquin's Admiral, which is black above, has orange all the way to the tip of the FW above, and has bolder bands below crossed by black veins. Host plant: Oak species (Quercus ) and Golden chinkapin (Chrysolepis chrysophylla ) . Habitat: Near oak-lined waterways, in oak stands. Range: Throughout western Oregon, except in low areas at the northern end. Season: late May to late October. Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

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Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Indra Swallowtail butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Illinois River Rd, Josephine Co, April 24 Indra Swallowtail Papilio indra Size: 2.25 - 2.5 inches wingspan Key ID features: Upperside mostly black with narrow band of yellow on forewing, stubby tails, blue patches on black band near hindwing margin. Underside almost identical to upper side, with paler black. Similar species: Anise Swallowtail has much less black on forewing and longer tails. Host plant: Wild members of the parsley family. Habitat: Dry canyons, riverbanks and roadsides, hilltops, rocky desert washes. Range: Blue Mtns, northern portion of Cascade Mtns on east side, Steens Mtn, and Klamath Mtns. Season: Late March - mid-August Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure