Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Mojave Sootywing butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Ana River, Lake Co, August 1 - female Mojave Sootywing Hesperopsis libya Size: Up to 1.5 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above very dark brown with several white spots or bars on FW (bolder on female). Below deep brown-black with a few white spots near the tip of the FW. Below, HW has several white patches or bars, with a single spot close to wing base. Similar species: Common Sootywing is smaller and darker, with white face. Host plant: Fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens ) and related shrubs. Habitat: Hot, dry sage and alkali flats, often near waterbody. Range: Southern half of Lake, Harney and Malheur counties. Season: Late July to early August Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Western White butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Eagle Cap Wilderness, Wallowa Co, Aug 26 - female Western White Pontia occidentalis Size: 1.25 - 1.75 inches wingspan Key ID features: Above, male white with black or gray markings on forewing, female has more extensive markings on both wings. Below dark overscaling creates gray-green margins along hindwing veins, darker in spring. Similar species: Co-occurs with Checkered White in SE Oregon. The two species are not separable in flight. Female Checkered White is less sharply marked, often with olive or brown shades above instead of the gray-black of Western. Male Checkered White has narrower gray marks on the forewing margins with more white in between, and forewing markings are less extensive in general. Host plant: Many native species in the mustard family. Habitat: Open habitats, including woodland openings, mountain meadows, and barren areas above tree line. Range: Throughout Oregon west of the Cascade Crest. Season: Mid-March to mid-September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Northern Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Catherine Cr Rd, Wallowa Co, July 8 Northern Blue Plebejus idas Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inch wingspan Key ID features: Male deep violet-blue above with black marginal band and white fringe. Female brown above with scalloped orange marginal band, clearer and bolder on HW. Below, light bluish gray with black spots, with row of marginal spots that are black inwardly, then orange, and outwardly black with a patch of iridescent blue, lighter and less clear on FW. Similar species: Male Acmon and Lupine Blues have orange band on HW above, and females of those species have no orange on FW above. Melissa Blue has brighter orange borders and bolder iridescent patches on HW below. Anna's Blues don't occur east of the Cascades in NE Oregon. Host plant: May be using plants in the pea family and/or heath family . Habitat: Moist, cool montane meadows and forest openings, and dry meadows among conifers. Range: Found from Ochocos to Wallowas and Blue Mtns in NE Oregon. Season: Early June to late August Abundance: 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 Arctic Skipper. Gallery Prev Next Lookout Cr Rd, Lane Co, May 26 Arctic Skipper Carterocephalus skada Size: Up to 1 inch wingspan Key ID features: Small and boldly marked . Above dark brown with many light orange patches on both wings. Below FW light orange with brown patches, HW darker orange with white or pale yellow spots with dark rims. Similar species: No other similar species (small skipper with orange spots on brown wings) in Oregon. Host plant: Grass species. Habitat: Forest openings, grassy meadows, streambanks, riparian areas--usually near water. Range: NE Blue Mtns, Wallowa Mtns, Cascade Range, northern Coast Range, and isolated Coast Range populations in Coos and Benton counties. Season: Mid-April to early August Abundance: Common 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 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

Directory with photos and links for all of Oregon's brushfoot family butterflies. Brushfoot Butterflies Click photo for more details Monarch Monarch Danaus plexippus Zerene Fritillary Argynnis zerene Mormon Fritillary Argynnis mormonia American Lady Vanessa virginiensis Compton Tortoiseshell Nymphalis l-album Hoary Comma Polygonia gracilis Chalcedona Checkerspot Euphydryas chalcedona Sagebrush Checkerspot Chlosyne acastus Northern Crescent Phyciodes cocyta Sylvan Wood Nymph Cercyonis silvestris Silver-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene Callippe Fritillary Argynnis callippe Viceroy Viceroy Limenitis archippus Painted Lady Vanessa cardui California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica Green Comma Polygonia faunus Snowberry Checkerspot Euphydryas colon Northern Checkerspot Chlosyne palla Field Crescent Phyciodes pulchella Small Wood Nymph Cercyonis oetus Pacific Fritillary Boloria epithore Great Basin Fritillary Argynnis egleis Weidemeyer's Admiral Limenitis weidemeyerii West Coast Lady Vanessa annabella Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa Gray Buckeye Junonia grisea Anicia Checkerspot Euphydryas anicia California Crescent Phyciodes orseis Common Ringlet Coenonympha california Common Alpine Erebia epipsodea Great Spangled Fritillary Argynnis cybele Northwestern Fritillary Argynnis hesperis Lorquin's Admiral Limenitis lorquini Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus Gillett's Checkerspot Euphydryas gillettii Leanira Checkerspot Chlosyne leanira Pale Crescent Phyciodes pallida Common Wood Nymph Cercyonis pegala Riding's Satyr Neominois ridingsii Coronis Fritillary Argynnis coronis Hydaspe Fritillary Argynnis hydaspe California Sister Adelpha californica Milbert's Tortoiseshell Aglais milberti Oreas Comma Polygonia oreas Edith's Checkerspot Euphydryas editha Hoffmann's Checkerspot Chlosyne hoffmanni Mylitta Crescent Phyciodes mylitta Great Basin Wood Nymph Cercyonis sthenele Great Arctic Oeneis nevadensis

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Mustard White butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Plunkett Cr, Benton Co, July 31 Mustard White Pieris marginalis AKA Margined White Size: 1.25 - 1.5 inches wingspan Key ID features: Above milky-white, with black shading basally (near the thorax). Below, hindwing veins faintly lined with brownish back bands. Summer brood males usually nearly pure white. Similar species: Cabbage White has black spot in center of FW. Host plant: Cresses, toothworts and other mustard species. Habitat: Openings in moist forests, usually coniferous. Range: Throughout western Oregon west of the Cascades, and in Ochoco, Wallowa Blue, and Warner Mtns. Season: Late March to early October Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Oreas Comma butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Mt. Hebo, Tillamook Co, August 13, ssp. silenus Oreas Comma Polygonia oreas AKA Oreas Anglewing Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above orange with black blotches and spots, often with very jagged wing edges. FW above has yellow patches adjacent to dark marginal band. HW above has submarginal row of yellow/orange crescent-shaped chevrons within brown to black marginal band. Below dark chocolate or dark gray to black, with lighter gray striations, and prominent white flattened "v" with no hooks (usually pointed at the bottom, often looking like a gull in flight), in center of HW. Similar species: Darker below than other comma species, white "v" mark on HW below lacks barbs. Other comma species either have stronger green submarginal shading below or the "comma" mark on HW below is curved (not a pointed "v") or barbed or both. Other commas species have less jagged wing edges, often looking smooth between major points. Host plant: Currant species (Ribes ), including R. divericatum (straggly gooseberry), and R. lacustre (swamp gooseberry) . Habitat: Forest fringes, especially in older stands, riparian areas and ravines, subalpine meadows. Range: Coast Range, Willamette Valley, Western Cascades, east slope of Cascades, Wallowa Mtns, Blue Mtns . Season: Late February to mid-September Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Garita Skipperling butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Izzee Rd Meadow, Grant Co, June 29 Garita Skipperling Oarisma garita Size: Up to 1 inch wingspan Key ID features: Small and triangular . Above, dark brown with brassy sheen, and veins that look darker than wings. Below lighter orange-brown, veins lighter than ground color. Similar species: No other similar species in Oregon. Host plant: Grass and sedge species. Habitat: Montane mid-elevation grasslands, moist pastures, weedy marshes and fields. Range: Grassy areas north and west of Wallowa Mtns. Season: Early June to early August Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Uncas Skipper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Millican Flats, Deschutes Co, June 24 Uncas Skipper Hesperia uncas Size: Up to 1.4 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above, male brownish orange darker wingtips with light orange spots. Above female brown with jagged row of light orange spots. Below dark greenish gray with lighter veins, and disjointed white bands joined by thin vein lines. Similar species: Sandhill Skipper has light veins below but they are tan or yellowish. Nevada Skipper lacks light veins, and has the lowest segment of the outer spot band strongly offset on HW below. Host plant: Grass species. Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides ) is suspected in Oregon. Habitat: Sage-steppe, hot dry plains, alkali basins, arid canyons. Range: Far southeast corner of Harney and Malheur counties, alkali and sage flats in southern Crook and northern Jefferson counties. Season: Late May to late June Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure