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  • Cascadia Blue | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Glaucon Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Izee Rd Meadow, Grant Co, July 1 Cascadia Blue Euphilotes heracleoides 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 orange submarginal line on HW. Similar species: Best told from other Euphilotes blues by host-plant association, location and flight period. Host plant: Eriogonum heracleoides (Parsnip-flower buckwheat). Habitat: Well-drained sites where host plant grows, including high plateaus, ridges and roadsides. Range: All of northeast Oregon, and in Warner Mountains and southern Deschutes County Season: Late April to late June Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

  • Queen Alexandra's Sulphur | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Queen Alexandra's Sulphur butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Mtn Lakes Wilderness, Klamath Co, August 15 Queen Alexandra's Sulphur Colias alexandra Size: 2.0 - 2.8 inches wingspan Key ID features: Larger than any other Oregon sulphur, with more pointed FW. Below HW discal spot is white (not pearly) with no satellite spot, often unrimmed. Below HW has heavy black overscaling, giving strong green cast. Similar species: Clouded Sulphurs are smaller and have double ring around discal spot on HW below. Western Sulphurs are smaller and often have brighter pink wing borders. Pink-edged Sulphurs have more rounded wings, lack black overscaling below and have bright pink wing borders. Host plant: Various species in the pea family, especially Astragalus (milkvetch) and Medicago (alfalfa). Habitat: Meadows, roadsides, dry steppe slopes and forest glades. Range: Throughout eastern Oregon. Season: mid-April to mid-September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

  • Great Basin Wood Nymph | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for Great Basin Wood Nymph. Gallery Prev Next Picture Rock Pass, Lake Co, Aug 5 Great Basin Woodnymph Cercyonis sthenele Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above, brown or gray-brown with two eye spots on FW, lower eye slightly smaller, otherwise plain. Below, silvery striated brown with one to several small eyespots on HW, two large eyespots on FW (lower one smaller as above), but nearly equidistant from FW margin. Dark median line below lobed, but smoother than in Small Wood Nymph. Similar species: Small Wood Nymph is smaller, and HW median line below is more erratically jagged. Host plant: Undetermined grass species . Habitat: Sage-steppe, bunchgrass prairie, pinyon-juniper stands, ponderosa pine lands, oak-lined canyons. Range: Eastern Oregon, Siskiyou Mtns, Cascade Range from Lane County south. Season: Late June to late September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

  • Oreas Comma | ButterfliesofOregon

    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

  • Garita Skipperling | ButterfliesofOregon

    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

  • Weidemeyer's Admiral | ButterfliesofOregon

    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

  • Snowberry Checkerspot | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Snowberry Checkerspot butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Rd 23 Meadows, Lane Co, July 8 Snowberry Checkerspot Euphydryas colon Size: Up to 2.25 inch wingspan Key ID features: Quite variable. Above black with red and ivory spots, marginal band of red spots, sometimes absent on HW. On HW above submarginal row of small ivory spots. On HW below bands of ivory and red spots edged in black, crossed by black veins. Pattern of bands (starting at margin) is red-white-red-white -white. Similar species: Edith's checkerspot has red-white-red-red -white band pattern on HW below (starting at margin). Chalcedona Checkerspot has larger and paler ivory spots in submarginal row on HW above. Host plant: Snowberry species (Symphoricarpos ), including S. albus , and members of the figwort family, including penstemons, paintbrushes, and honeysuckle . Habitat: Mountain meadows, riparian areas, open woodlands, roadsides. Range: Cascade Range, Siskiyou Mtns, Warner Mtns, Ochoco Mtns, Blue Mtns . Season: Late April to late August Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

  • Western Tailed Blue | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Western Tailed Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Viewpoint Rd, Crook Co, June 23 Western Tailed-Blue Cupido amyntula Size: 0.75 - 1.0 inches wingspan Key ID features: Male bright lavender blue above, female brown or gray-brown, with purple-blue iridescence when fresh. HW with white fringe and often few or no marginal black spots. Below, gray or gray-white, with small black spots rimmed with white, variable marginal band of spots and chevrons, usually one small orange patch adjacent to small blue iridescent patch next to small white-tipped tails. Usually lacks the black cell-end bar on the upperside of the forewing. Similar species: Eastern Tailed-Blue tends to be more gray below, often has more orange on HW below, is smaller, and usually has a black cell end bar on the FW above. Host plant: Many species in the pea family including lupines, vetches and clovers . Habitat: Typically found in native habitats, including wet meadows and riparian areas. Range: West of the Cascade Range, Siskiyou and Klamath Mtns, Ochoco Mtns, Wallowa Mtns and Blue Mtns. Season: Late march to mid-September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

  • Lorquin's Admiral | ButterfliesofOregon

    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

  • Anna's Blue | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Anna's Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Crescent Mtn, Linn Co, August 8 - male (L), female (R) Anna's Blue Plebejus anna Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inch wingspan Key ID features: Male shiny 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 tiny black spots, with row of orange checks, bordered inwardly with black and a small, light patch of iridescent blue, lighter and less clear (or absent) 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 much brighter orange borders and bolder iridescent patches on HW below. Northern Blues not found in Cascades. Host plant: Legumes, especially lupines and lotuses . Habitat: Moist, cool montane meadows and forest openings, and dry meadows among conifers, usually above 3000 ft. Range: Found in Cascade Range, Siskiyou Mtns, Klamath Mtns and Warner Mtns. Season: Early June to mid-October Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

  • Common Wood Nymph | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for Common Wood Nymph. Gallery Prev Next Beaver Cr, Wasco Co, July 2 Common Woodnymph Cercyonis pegala Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Highly variable. Above, shades of brown and gray-brown with two large eye spots on FW, nearly equal in size or lower eye larger, otherwise plain. Below, striated brown with one to several small eyespots on HW, two large eyespots on FW (as above). Some eastern Oregon populations can have large, bright halos around FW eyespots, and six bold eyespots on HW below (see photo). Similar species: Great Basin Woodnymph is smaller, shorter winged and has more prominent bands below. Small Woodnymph is smaller, darker, and usually more gray and grizzled looking below. Host plant: Undetermined grass species . Habitat: Prairies, meadows, marshes, pastures, roadsides. Range: All of Oregon except northern coast and flat basin lands between Riley and Brothers (SE of Bend). Season: Mid-may to late September Abundance: Very common Conservation Status: Secure

  • Spring White | ButterfliesofOregon

    Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Spring White butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Dutchman's Peak, Jackson Co, July 15 Spring White Pontia sisymbrii Size: 1.25 - 1.5 inches wingspan Key ID features: Above, male milk-white, female cream to yellowish, both with black checks on wingtips and closed black bar at end of forewing cell. Below, hindwing veins crisply lined with brownish back bars, partially interrupted across the middle. Similar species: Western white has FW cell end bar with white center, and below HW veins less boldly shaded, and lacks slightly interrupted band across veins. Host plant: Wide variety of rockcresses and mustards. Habitat: Rocky desert-steppe, sage lands, subalpine ridges in the Cascades. Range: Throughout eastern Oregon east of the Cascades and in southern Josephine and Jackson counties. Season: Late March to late August Abundance: Widespread, but locally distributed, often seen singly. Conservation Status: Secure

© 2018-25 by Neil Henning Björklund

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