Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for Small Wood Nymph. Gallery Prev Next Mill Cr Rd, Lane Co, August 9 Sylvan Wood Nymph Cercyonis silvestris AKA Sylvan Satyr Size: Up to 1.75 inch wingspan Note: this species, formerly assumed to be a west-side segregate of Great Basin Wood Nymph, was recently clarified by DNA analysis to be a distinct species. Key ID features: Above grayish-brown usually with two eye spots on FW. Below, striated chocolate brown with one to several small eyespots on HW, two eyespots on FW, lower spot usually noticeably smaller than upper spot. Dark median line on HW sometimes indistinct, less erratically jagged than on Small Wood Nymph. Similar species: Great Basin Wood Nymph is slightly larger, more grayish below, with more prominent HW median bands below, and HW median line more distinct and jagged. Small Wood Nymph is typically somewhat smaller and darker, with more distinct and more jagged VHW median line, and usually with significantly smaller lower eyespot. Host plant: Undetermined grass species. Habitat: Openings in forested habitats, and along forest roads in foothills and mountains. Range: West slope of the Cascades in Linn, Lane, Douglas,and Jackson counties. Season: Late 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 Pink-edged Sulphur butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Lake Cr Trail, Deschutes Co, July 3 - male Pink-Edged Sulphur Colias interior Size: 1.5 - 2.0 inches wingspan Key ID features: Male above, solid black wing borders. Female above, smudgy FW border, can be either pale yellow or white. Below, HW yellow, with little or no black scaling, and discal spot single-rimmed with no satellite. Usually with bright pink wing fringes. Flight pattern is more relaxed than other sulphurs. Perhaps the most important clue for ID is the pattern of dark over-scaling on the ventral hindwing: often light overall and more dense toward the thorax and gradually fading out past the discal spot . Similar species: Other similar sulphur species in Oregon lack the gradual decrease in the density of overscaling on the dorsal hindwing (see above). Clouded Sulphurs have double ring around discal spot on HW below. Western Sulphurs greenish on HW below. Queen Alexandra's Sulphurs are larger, have more pointed wings, heavier black overscaling below with a strong greenish cast, and lighter pink wing borders. Host plant: Various species of Vaccinium (huckleberry). Habitat: Mid-elevation forest clearings, meadows marshes and heathlands. Range: Central OR Cascades and Blue Mountains. Season: Early June to mid-September Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Common Roadside Skipper. Gallery Prev Next Mill Cr Rd, Lane Co, July 1 Common Roadside Skipper Amblyscirtes vialis Size: Up to 1 inch wingspan Key ID features: Tiny and difficult to see until perched . Above, dark brown with a few white spots at leading edge near wingtip, fringes often checked. Below dark brownish gray, with gray frosted look in outer half of HW. Similar species: Darker and more marked than Dun Skipper, and more triangular shape. Common Sootywing has more white spots above and white face. Host plant: Many grass species. Habitat: Roadsides, and other warm, sunny sites, often near water. Range: Cascade Range, north Coast Range, Ochoco Mtns, Blue Mtns, Wallowa Mtns. Season: Late April to late August Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Asher's Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Meltolius River, Deschutes County, May 25 Asher's Blue Celastrina asheri Size: 0.9 - 1.1 inches wingspan Key ID features: This a recently described species (2021). Male hazy blue above, with no black markings. Female dusky-blue, often extensively darkened above. Dorsal wing fringes may be somewhat or heavily darkened. Below, dusky-gray, with extremely variable black and gray markings. Discal hindwing spots are swollen and elongated compared to Echo Azure, and all discal hindwing spots may be expanded and or fused with each other. Similar species: Distinguished from Echo Azure by its smaller size, shorter and more rounded wings, with the ventral ground color being dusky to gray, discal spots larger than in C. echo, and often with darker gray patches of various shapes and sizes. Host plants: r ed osier dogwood and possibly oceanspray . Habitat: Shrubby habitats and riparian areas. Range: Has been documented in Baker, Clackamas, Crook, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jefferson, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and Wasco counties. Further field study is needed to better understand the distribution in Oregon. Season: Late March to late July, peaking in early May at lower elevations, and in early June at higher elevations Abundance: Can be locally common near host plant. Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Lilac-bordered Copper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Mt. Ashland Road, Jackson Co, July 9 - female Lilac-Bordered Copper Tharsalea nivalis AKA Lycaena nivalis Size: 1 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Male above brownish with orange zigzag line on trailing margin. Female above light orange with black spots and borders. HW below two-toned, creamy yellow next to the body, and lilac in the outer half, with vague zigzag orange line (colors brighter in female). Similar species: Purplish lacks distinctive two-toned HW below. Other coppers have white or grayish undersides. Host plant: Knotweeds (Polygonum). Habitat: Mountain meadows, openings in fir and pine forests . Range: All of Oregon's mountains except Coast Range. Season: Mid-May to late August Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Pine White butterfly. Gallery Prev Next 3 Creeks Sno-Park, Deschutes Co, August 19 - male Pine White Neophasia menapia Size: 1.5 - 2.0 inches wingspan Key ID features: Bright white with black leading margin and tip of forewing. Underside of HW has veins outlined in black. Underside of female hindwing outlined in red-orange. Notably graceful flight pattern. Similar species: Mustard (margined) white has more delicate dark markings on veins below and lacks heavy black marks above Host plant: Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine and other pine species. Habitat: Fir and pine forests, and in some urban areas near pines. Range: Western Oregon and Ochoco Mtns, Blue Mtns and Wallowa Mtns. Season: Late June to mid-October Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Purplish Copper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next King Mountain Rd, Harney Co, June 13 - male Purplish Copper Tharsalea helloides AKA Lycaena helloides Size: 1 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Male above brownish with purple iridescence when fresh. Female above light orange with black spots and wide brown borders. Male and female HW below lavender with submarginal orange zigzag line (females darker); FW below with black spots. Similar species: Lilac-bordered has distinctive two-toned HW below. Other coppers have white or grayish undersides. Host plant: Docks (Rumex ) and Knotweeds (Polygonum). Habitat: Wide variety of habitats . Range: All of Oregon. Season: Late April to mid-October Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Moss's Elfin butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Jasper Rocks, Lane Co, February 24 Moss's Elfin Callophrys mossii Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Above both sexes grayish brown. Below shades of reddish-brown with variable amount of lighter overscaling giving a somewhat frosted look, sometimes with shades of lavender. Broken white median line, stronger on HW. No tails. Similar species: Hoary Elfin has much stronger frosted look between trailing margin and postmedian line. Host plant: Several species of Stonecrop (Sedum ) . Habitat: Rocky slopes and ridges, canyon side slopes, stony flats, buttes, cliffs at oceanside. Range: Northern Cascades Range, Siskiyou Mtns, Ochocos, Blue Mtns. Season: Mid-February to mid-July Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Directory with photos and links for all of Oregon's butterflies in the coppers, hairstreaks and blues families. Coppers, Hairstreaks & Blues Click photo for more details American Copper Lycaen a hypophlaeas Gorgon Copper Tharsalea gorgon Mariposa Copper Tharsalea mariposa Behr's Hairstreak Satyrium behrii Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak Satyrium tetra Cedar/Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus Hoary Elfin Callophrys polios Arrowhead Blue Glaucopsyche piasus Pacific Dotted Blue Euphilotes enoptes Eastern Tailed Blue Cupido comyntas Acmon Blue Icaricia acmon Sierra Nevada Blue Agriades podarce Lustrous Copper Lycaena cupreus Ruddy Copper Tharsalea rubidus Golden Hairstreak Habrodais grunus California Hairstreak Satyrium californica Hedgerow Hairstreak Satyrium saepium Thicket Hairstreak Callophrys spinetorum Western Pine Elfin Callophrys eryphon Silvery Blue Glaucopsyche lygdamus Columbian Blue Euphilotes columbiae Western Tailed Blue Cupido amyntula Lupine Blue Icaricia lupini Mormon Metalmark Apodemia mormo Tailed Copper Tharsalea arota Blue Copper Tharsalea heteronea Great Purple Hairstreak Atlides halesus Sylvan Hairstreak Satyrium sylvinus Western Green Hairstreak Callophrys affinis Johnson's Hairstreak Callophrys johnsoni Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus Summit Blue Euphilotes glaucon Ancilla Blue Euphilotes ancilla Greenish Blue Icaricia saepiolus Northern Blue Plebejus idas Edith's Copper Tharsalea editha Purplish Copper Tharsalea helloides Sooty Hairstreak Satyrium fuliginosa Coral Hairstreak Satyrium titus Bramble Hairstreak Callophrys dumetorum Brown Elfin Callophrys augustinus Echo Azure Celastrina echo Cascadia Blue Euphilotes heracleoides Leona's Blue Philotiella leona Boisduval's Blue Icaricia icarioides Anna's Blue Plebejus anna Great Copper Tharsalea xanthoides Lilac-bordered Copper Tharsalea nivalis Half-moon Hairstreak Satyrium semiluna Gold-hunter's Hairstreak Satyrium auretorum Sheridan's Hairstreak Callophrys sheridanii Moss's Elfin Callophrys mossii Asher's Blue Celastrina asheri Bauer's Blue Euphilotes baueri Western Pygmy Blue Brephidium exilis Shasta Blue Icaricia shasta Melissa's Blue Plebejus melissa

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Viceroy butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Warehouse Beach Rec Area, Umatilla Co, August 24 Viceroy Limenitis archippus Size: Up to 3.25 inch wingspan Key ID features: At first glance looks like small Monarch. Bright orange above with black veins, bold black margins with single row of submarginal white spots, curving black line through HW. Below, lighter orange with black veins and borders, black line through HW more bold. Similar species: Monarch is notably larger and lacks black line through middle of HW, has double row of white spots in black marginal band above. Host plant: Willow (Salix ) species . Habitat: Near water and willows. Range: Found in Columbia River and Snake River drainages. Season: Early April to late September. Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Butterflies of Oregon Blog Sign up for notices of new blog posts: Subscribe Thanks for submitting! All Posts Neil Björklund Nov 16, 2023 9 min The Lone Wanderer It was wicked-hot, dry, desolate, and extraordinarily beautiful in the desert near the Owyhee River in Malheur County, where I spent a... 237 views 2 comments 8 likes. Post not marked as liked 8 Neil Björklund Sep 22, 2023 7 min A Very Little Big Deal Last summer, I wrote about a visit I made to the pumice desert east of Crater Lake, to check up on our population of Leona's Little Blue,... 236 views 1 comment 3 likes. Post not marked as liked 3 Neil Björklund Aug 17, 2023 12 min The Great Butterfly Scrounge Maybe I could blame it on iNaturalist. Well, maybe a little on my friend John, too. Although John and I are probably about even, since I... 276 views 2 comments 4 likes. Post not marked as liked 4 Neil Björklund Apr 4, 2023 2 min The iNat Revolution Welcome to my first Blog post of the year! I can't wait to share some updates from this new butterfly season with you. In the meantime,... 235 views 1 comment Post not marked as liked Neil Björklund Sep 21, 2022 6 min Yes, We have Volcanos! I've been known to describe my avocation of chasing butterflies in Oregon as a game played on the huge game board of the state of... 175 views 1 comment 6 likes. Post not marked as liked 6 Neil Björklund Sep 15, 2022 7 min Wave the Checkered Flag! I first started looking for the enigmatic Checkered White (Pontia protodice) back in 2004, at Picture Rock Pass, in Lake County. It was,... 122 views 0 comments 3 likes. Post not marked as liked 3 Neil Björklund Sep 9, 2022 7 min Let's Go Dutch! Nope, I'm not talking about coffee--I'm talking about the peak in southern Oregon. You know, Dutchman Peak, in the Siskiyous. It was... 137 views 2 comments 5 likes. Post not marked as liked 5 Neil Björklund Aug 28, 2022 5 min Loving Leona Leona's Blue (Philotiella leona) is Oregon's only known endemic butterfly. It has been found only in the pumice flats created by the... 234 views 0 comments 5 likes. Post not marked as liked 5 Neil Björklund Aug 18, 2022 8 min The Bigfoot of Butterflies We humans tend to love stories about mysterious critters that may or may not exist or persist out in the wild places. The Northwest's... 235 views 0 comments 5 likes. Post not marked as liked 5 Neil Björklund Aug 12, 2022 7 min A Double Scoop of Rocky Road Back in May I visited a few of the sites where Andy Warren had studied azure blues back in the early 2000's. At several sites, mostly in... 114 views 0 comments 5 likes. Post not marked as liked 5 Neil Björklund Aug 3, 2022 8 min The Art of Waiting The Nevada Skipper flies very fast and low in treeless habitats on windswept ridges. When the wind is gusting they can just disappear... 167 views 0 comments 3 likes. Post not marked as liked 3 Neil Björklund Jun 7, 2022 11 min A Boy and His Butterfly Earlier this spring, I learned in an unexpected way about an obscure disease called 4H Leukodystrophy. It is an inherited genetic... 405 views 4 comments 6 likes. Post not marked as liked 6 Neil Björklund Apr 29, 2022 9 min Searching for Spring This year, just when we seemed to be heading for the most severe drought in Oregon history, winter seemed to wake up and say "oh, wait... 170 views 0 comments 6 likes. Post not marked as liked 6 Neil Björklund Aug 15, 2021 5 min Silverspotting The Oregon Silverspot (Argynnis zerene hippolyta) is a subspecies of the Zerene Fritillary (Argynnis zerene), found along the Oregon... 353 views 0 comments 6 likes. Post not marked as liked 6 Neil Björklund Aug 8, 2021 12 min Puttin' on the Frits Here in Oregon, as summer pushes on into July and early August, we get into smoke season, but we also get into the season of nymphalids... 226 views 0 comments 5 likes. Post not marked as liked 5 Neil Björklund Jul 14, 2021 10 min The Mysterious Case of the Vanishing Checkerspot I was packing for a trip to the southern Blue Mountains to (hopefully) photograph Garita Skipperlings for the first time, when I got the... 252 views 2 comments 3 likes. Post not marked as liked 3 Neil Björklund Jul 10, 2021 9 min The Tao of Skipperlings The Taoist Masters of old speak of the principle of Wu wei, or non-doing, as being central to their way of understanding how the world is... 159 views 0 comments 3 likes. Post not marked as liked 3 Neil Björklund Jun 27, 2021 13 min Heat Zombie and the Bakeoven Butterflies As a second generation native Oregonian, I have always felt some kind of civic duty to photograph the Oregon Swallowtail, our state insect.. 320 views 0 comments 1 like. Post not marked as liked 1 Neil Björklund Jun 6, 2021 6 min Hunting for the Gold Isn't it curious how sometimes when we are looking for one thing, we often find something else that is equally satisfying? 193 views 2 comments 4 likes. Post not marked as liked 4 Neil Björklund May 3, 2021 5 min Chasing Our Swallowtail My 2021 field season started quite a bit later than I'd planned, and sadly I had to skip a trip to the Illinois River in April in search... 211 views 3 comments 5 likes. Post not marked as liked 5