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

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

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Pale Swallowtail butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Hat Point Rd, Wallowa Co, June 25 Pale Swallowtail Papilio eurymedon Size: 2.75 - 3.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Above pale, yellowish white with vertical bands of black on forewing, long single tails, blue chevrons on black band near hindwing margin. Similar pattern below, with red-orange shading in ivory marginal spots near the tail. Similar species: Western Tiger Swallowtail is brighter yellow and has slightly narrower black bands on forewing Host plant: Many shrubs and small trees including ceanothus, alder, cascara, and buckthorn. Habitat: Can be found in any forest or shrubby habitat, and especially on ridges, along roads and in riparian corridors Range: Throughout western Oregon, and in Ochoco Mtns, Strawberry Mtns, Blue Mtns, Wallowa Mtns. Season: Mid-April - early October Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Orange Sulphur butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Upper Mule Prairie, Lane Co, August 2 - male Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme Size: 1.3 - 2.3 inches wingspan Key ID features: Males above, bright orange with unbroken black border. Females above either bright orange or greenish white with "window" spots breaking up black border. Below, central pearly "discal" spot on HW with small satellite spot, and two pinkish-brown rings, and submarginal row of black or brown "eurytheme spots." Similar species: Western Sulphur and Clouded Sulphur are lemony yellow, lacking orange. White females difficult to separate from Clouded Sulphur, but often HW border is stronger in female Orange Sulphur. Host plant: Many species in the pea family. Habitat: Most commonly seen in meadows, pastures, fields and other open habitats. Range: Throughout Oregon Season: Late March to early November Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Cedar Haristreak butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Upper Klamath River, Klamath Co, May 29 Cedar/Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Found near cedar or juniper trees . Above, gray-brown or reddish brown, sometimes with redder patches near tails. Below, shades of brown, gray, and violet, with white postmedian line that varies from bold to nearly absent. Blue submarginal ("thecla") patches near tails vary in size and brightness, but usually lacking orange. Similar species: Johnson's Hairstreak is darker shade of brown, postmedian white line is bolder with a more pronounced "M" on the HW, and generally only found in and near old growth forest. Host plant: Western redcedar (Thuja plicata ), incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens ) and western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis ). Habitat: Roadsides, meadows, riparian zones, forest edges and clearings near the host plant. Range: Most of Oregon, but missing from most of Coast Range, Blue Mtns, Wallowas and Malheur County. Season: Late March to early August Abundance: Abundant Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Ruddy Copper butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Williams Prairie, Crook Co, July 26 - male Ruddy Copper Tharsalea rubidus AKA Lycaena rubidus Size: 1.1 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Male above very bright coppery orange, with few small dark spots . Female above brownish gray orange with black spots, and submarginal spot band, often with orange submarginal zigzag line. Female HW below white with orange wash with very light spots; FW below light orange with black spots. Male similar below with lighter ground color. Similar species: No other Oregon butterfly is as bright orange as the male. Female somewhat similar to Blue Copper, which lacks the orange zigzag above and the orange wash below. Host plant: Dock (Rumex ) species. Habitat: Riparian habitast (near water), including wet montane meadows. Range: Southeastern Oregon, and east of Cascade Mtns from Ochoco Mtns south. 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 Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Izee Rd Meadow, Grant Co, July 1 - male Great Spangled Fritillary Argynnis cybele AKA Speyeria cybele Size: Up to 3 inch wingspan Key ID features: Male orange above with thin black veins, black shading near the body, black irregular lines inwardly, and bands of black spots and chevrons near wing edge. Female striking white to cream above with similar black markings as male. Below male has dark orange "disc" on HW with silvery-white spots and warm tan submarginal band. Below female has dark brown disc with silvery-white spots and tan to ivory submarginal band. Similar species: Female Great Spangled is unmistakable. Male has lighter black markings above along wing edge than other greater fritillaries, and silver spots on HW disc below are much smaller in proportion to size of disc (disc looks more empty) in comparison. Host plant: Violets (Viola ) especially Viola glabella (stream violet) . Habitat: Open meadows, openings in oak-pine forest, lower slopes of mountains in eastern Oregon. Range: Western and southwestern Oregon, Ochoco Mtns, Blue Mtns, Wallowa Mtns, Warner Mtns, Steens Mtn, Mt Jefferson area. Season: Early June to early October. Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure .

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Bauer's Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Alvord Basin, Harney Co, May 29 Bauer's Blue Euphilotes baueri Size: Up to 0.85 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 orange submarginal line edged in black on HW, sometimes as separate spots. Similar species: Best told from other Euphilotes blues by host-plant association, location and flight period. Host plant: Eriogonum ovalifolium (cushion buckwheat). Habitat: Arid deserts with host plant cushion buckwheat. Range: Eastern Harney County, and area around Brothers, Oregon . Season: Early May to early June Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Leanira Checkerspot butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Alvord Basin, Harney Co, May 31 - ssp. basinensis Leanira Checkerspot Chlosyne leanira Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Two distinct subspecies . Ssp. oregonensis is black above, with pale ivory spots, sometimes with red spots on FW tips. Below, FW orange with pale ivory spots, and submarginal band of ivory and black, often with a gap. HW below white with black veins and submarginal band of white spots surrounded by black. Ssp. basinensis is orange above with black veins, submarginal band of pale orange spots. Below similar to oregonensis , with bolder, wider black border to submarginal spot band. Similar species: Below, neither subspecies is similar to other Oregon butterfly species. Above, C. l. oregonensis is similar to some small, dark individuals of Snowberry Checkerspot, note pattern below. Host plant: Paintbrush species (Castilleja ) . Habitat/Range: Ssp oregonensis found in canyons and hillsides near streams in SW Oregon. Ssp. basinensis found in desert hills and sage flats in SE Oregon. Season: Early May to late July Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Gray Marble butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Eight Dollar Mtn Rd, Josephine Co, June 4 Gray Marble Anthocaris lanceolata Size: Up to 2 inches wingspan Key ID features: White above, with small, sparse black markings on FW. Below, light gray marbling on HW and on FW tip. Outer margin of FW is concave, giving slightly hooked appearance to FW. Similar species: Much larger than other Marbles, lacks orange on forewing of Sara Orangetip. Host plant: Crucifers, including several rockcresses. Habitat: Often found on South-facing slopes, on wooded canyons, gullies, washes, steep-walled ravines. Range: Siskiyou Mtns and Warner Mtns. Season: Early May to early July Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the California Tortoiseshell butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Buford Park, Lane Co, June 2 California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica Size: Up to 2.5 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above bright orange with black and white patches on the leading edge of FW, a few smaller black spots on FW, and dark border on FW and HW. Below striated two-toned with darker inner half and brown outer half with darker margin, and often a dark gray-blue submarginal line. Similar species: Above, Milbert's dark basally with bright orange rim. Below, Milbert's Tortoiseshell more distinctly two-toned, outer band lighter, more variable and more gray than brown. Host plant: Ceanothus species include snowbrush (C. velutinus ), deerbrush (C. integerrimus ) . Habitat: While dispersing, may be found in any habitat, including in the middle of urban areas. Otherwise in mountain slopes, canyons, meadows, riversides, road edges and shorelines. Range: Throughout Oregon . Season: Late January to early December. Abundance: Common, abundant in some years. Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Boiduval's Blue butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Catherine Cr Rd, Wallowa Co, July 8 Boisduval's Blue Icaricia icarioides Size: 1.0 - 1.5 inch wingspan Key ID features: Male bright blue above with charcoal wing borders. Female brown above with orange-brown highlights on FW, often with blue shading basally and vague or no orange band along trailing margin of HW. Both sexes may have dark cell end bars on FW. Male blue-gray below with very small black spots with wide white halos and marginal row of small black triangles. Female below brownish-gray with similar spot pattern. Similar species: Separated from Greenish blues by tiny black spots below having broad white halos, especially on the hindwing, and lack of orange edged triangles at anal angle. Host plant: Many lupine species (Lupinus ) . Fender's Blue subspecies uses Kincaid's Lupine (Lupinus oreganus var. kincaidii ). Habitat: Mountain meadows and roadsides, subalpine slopes, and occasionally lower elevation meadows (Fender's), always near lupines. Range: All of eastern Oregon, plus central Coast Range, and southern Willamette Valley (ssp. I.i. fenderi ) . Season: Late May to early July Abundance: Common east of Cascade Range, locally common at scattered sites in Willamette Valley. Conservation Status: Fender's Blue listed as Endangered federally.