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Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Mardon Skipper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Soda Mtn Rd, Jackson Co, July 5 - ssp. klamathensis Mardon Skipper Polites mardon Size: Up to 1 inch wingspan Key ID features: Compact, rounded wings. Above orange and brown, males with small stigmata. HW below brown with neat arc of yellow bars forming a curved band, and one or two additional light spots near wing base . Similar species: HW pattern below is somewhat similar to Sonoran Skipper, which has longer, narrower wings and HW spots that are more rounded and less distinct. Host plant: Grass species, especially fescues, including Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis ), red fescue (Festuca rubra ) and Roemer's fescue (Festuca roemeri ). Habitat: Ponderosa pine openings, Ceanothus patches. Range: Coastal Curry County, Cascade Siskiyou National Monument. Season: Mid-May to early August Abundance: Rare Conservation Status: Federal Species of Concern; designated Imperiled in Oregon

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Mariposa Copper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Scott Lake, Lane Co, August 10 Mariposa Copper Tharsalea mariposa AKA Lycaena mariposa Size: 1 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Male above brown with purple iridescence when fresh. Female above bright orange with black spots and borders. HW below silver-gray like weathered wood with black chevrons. FW below orange-brown with black spots, gray-brown border, submarginal row of black chevrons bordered in white. Similar species: Silver-gray HW below is distinctive, lacking spots or orange. Host plant: Huckleberries (Vaccinium ). Habitat: Mountain meadows, sunny roadsides, lake edges . Range: Cascade Range, Ochoco Mtns, Blue Mtns, Wallowas Mtns. Season: Late May to late September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Chalcedona Checkerspot butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Kinney Cr Rd, Jackson Co, May 26 Chalcedona Checkerspot Euphydryas chalcedona Size: Up to 2.75 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above black with alternating red and white spot bands separated by black lines. HW below has red and white bands, which, from the margin run red-white-red-white-white. Submarginal spot band on dorsal HW has larger pale ivory spots than other similar species. Similar species: Edith's checkerspot has red-white-red-red-white band pattern on HW below. Snowberry Checkerspot has smaller spots in the submarginal band on the dorsal HW, often more red on forewing, and longer forewings. Hostplant: Several species in the figwort family, including paintbushes (Castilleja ), penstemons, and monkeyflowers . Habitat: Mountains and high canyons. Range: Warner Mtns, southern Klamath Mtns and in Jackson and Josephine counties along the border with CA . Season: Late April to early August Abundance: Locally common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Lupine Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Frissell Ridge, Lane Co, July 18 - male Lupine Blue Icaricia lupini Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inch wingspan Key ID features: Male blue above with narrow black marginal band and white fringe, on HW red-orange band above marginal row of black spots, often with narrow darker band between orange and blue. Female brown above with darker marginal line and white fringe on FW, on HW broad orange band above row of dark brown marginal spots. Below, male light bluish gray, female brownish gray, with black spots. HW has row of marginal spots that are black inwardly, then orange, and outwardly black with a circle of iridescent blue. Similar species: Acmon Blue very similar, but tends to be smaller, and on males, tends to lack dark border between pinkish-orange band and blue on HW above. Note shorter flight season of Lupine Blue below. Host plant: Several Buckwheat (Eriogonum ) species . Habitat: Wide range of habitats, from sea level lowlands to montane habitats. Range: Found in all of eastern Oregon and SW Oregon and on Rickreall Ridge in Polk County. The high elevation segregate (AKA Volcano Blue) is found in high elevation pumice habitat near its host plant, Shasta Buckwheat. Season: Late May to early August Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Pacific Fritillary butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Butte Disappointment, Lane Co, May 24 Pacific Fritillary Boloria selene AKA Western Meadow Fritillary Size: Up to 1.75 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above orange with thin black veins, black scaling near the body, black irregular lines inwardly, and bands of black spots and submarginal chevrons that point toward wing edge. Below HW has cream and orange patches edged in dark brown-orange on inner half, outer half is vague pattern of mauve, lavender, and brownish spots. Similar species: Silver-Bordered has very limited range, bolder black marginal pattern above with submarginal triangles pointing inward, bolder pattern on HW below. Host plant: Violets (Viola ) . Habitat: Meadows and lush open habitats, forest clearings, riparian areas. Range: Found throughout western Oregon, in Klamath Mtns, Warner Mtns, Wallowa Mtns and Blue Mtns. Season: Late March to L September. Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure .

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for Northern Crescent butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Izee Rd, Grant Co, June 25 - male Northern Crescent Phyciodes cocyta Size: Up to 1 inch wingspan Key ID features: Small. Male above, orange with black spots, checks and borders, sometimes with large open orange area on FW with black patches at the four "corners." Female above orange and light orange bands, separated by black. HW above with submarginal band of small black dots circled with orange, often with wide orange band just above. Male HW below creamy yellow with light brown irregular lines, and bright marginal crescent below midpoint, surrounded with brown. Female HW often with darker irregular brown lines, and lighter brown patch around crescent. Similar species: Female Field Crescent has light vertical bar in cell at leading edge of FW above (Northern lacks this). Host plant: Aster species, likely including Cascade aster (Eucephalus ledophyllus ) and alkali aster (Symphyotrichum frondosum , in lower areas) . Habitat: Wetlands, meadows, streambanks, dry grasslands. Range: Snake River basin, Burnt River basin, Strawberry Mtns . Season: Late April to late September Abundance: Common 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 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 the Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly. Gallery Next Kinney Creek Rd, Jackson Co, May 29 Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Our largest skipper. Above dark brown to almost black, with dull orange bars on FW. Below dark brown to black with shining white patch on HW and coppery orange patch on FW. Similar species: None in Oregon. Host plant: many legume species . Habitat: Open, flowery areas at middle to lower elevations. Range: Western Oregon, Columbia and Snake River basins. Season: Late April to early September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Glaucon Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Sand Creek, Klamath Co, July 1 Summit Blue Euphilotes glaucon AKA Glaucon Blue Size: Up to 1.0 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 broad, connected orange submarginal line on HW. Similar species: Best told from other Euphilotes blues by host-plant association, location and flight period. Host plant: Eriogonum umbellatum (Sulphur-flower buckwheat). Habitat: Well-drained sites where host plant grows, including high plateaus, ridges and roadsides. Range: North Cascades, Curry Co, Jackson Co, Josephine Co, Klamath Co, Deschutes Co, Harney Co Season: Early May to mid-August Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Edith's Checkerspot butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Deception Creek Rd, Lane Co, July 3 Edith's Checkerspot Euphydryas editha Size: Up to 2.25 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above black with alternating red and white spot bands separated by black lines. HW below has red and white bands, which, from the margin run red-white-red-red-white. Similar species: Snowberry checkerspot has red-white-red-white-white band pattern on HW below. Host plant: Several species in the figwort family, including paintbushes (Castilleja), penstemons, and monkeyflowers . Habitat: Commonly in s ubalpine and alpine meadows, sage-steppe. Frequently found on the highest point of the area. Also in arid river canyons in spring. Range: Cascade Range, Siskiyous, central Coast Range, parts of the Blue Mtns, Wallowa Mtns, and SE Oregon . Season: Late May to late July Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure, except ssp. taylori, which is listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Columbia Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Gert Canyon, Wasco Co, May 4 Columbia Dotted Blue Euphilotes columbiae AKA: Columbian Blue Columbia Dotted Blue Size: Up to 0.85 inch wingspan Key ID features: Small. Male blue above with dark wing borders. Female dark brown above with vague orange zigzag along trailing margin. Both sexes have checked fringe on FW. Below yellowish-gray with bold black spots, and orange edges to submarginal black spots on HW. Similar species: Best told from other Euphilotes blues by host-plant association, location and flight period. Host plant: Eriogonum elatum (tall woolly buckwheat), E. compositum (arrowleaf buckwheat), and E. strictum (Blue Mtn buckwheat). Habitat: Well-drained sites where hostplant grows, including high plateaus, ridges, gravelly slopes and roadsides. Range: Columbia and Snake River basins in NE Oregon . Season: Mid-April to late June Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure