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The Complete Field Guide of the Santa Monica Mountains

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area 1 2 Table of COntents How To Use This Field Guide How To Use This Field Guide 2 The chapters in this guide are divided into scientific families. The Basic Structures 5 beginning of each chapter lists the different subfamilies those Terms and Definitions 6 can be divided into, if any. Some of these names are self-explanatory - Blues, Whites, etc. - and others - Admirals, Common Name Family Scientific Name Fritillaries, etc. - are less intuitive.

Swallowtails Papilionidae 7 Each butterfly has the following information: common and Whites and Sulphurs 13 scientific name, size, flight time, food plant(s), Coppers, Hairstreaks, and Blues 25 identification information, and a photo. The flight time is a range Metalmarks 49 Brushfoots 53 when you will see the butterflies locally in their adult form. In Skippers Hesperiidae 75 this guide, butterflies are listed in each chapter from most to least common. Each subfamily should been read as a chapter Index 91 within a chapter. For example, in Lycaenidae, Coppers will be Acknowledgments 94 listed most to least common, then Hairstreaks, then Blues. 3 4 The symbols below may be found at the upper, inside corner of getting warmer have flowers blooming earlier than previous each page. They indicate the rarity of the , both in the . Butterflies in these areas are pressured to adjust to Santa Monica Mountains and throughout its entire expanse. these changes in asynchronization and are, consequently, emerging earlier. Second, butterfly ranges are changing. Recent Uncommon in the Santa Monica Mountains studies have shown that butterfly ranges are shifting over Rare in the Santa Monica Mountains time - primarily North - due to changes in microclimates. Third, Threatened throughout its range butterfly diversity is decreasing. This is contributed to a variety Endangered throughout its range of factors, including: habitat destruction and/or fragmentation, pollution, and the spread of invasive species that do not support Although some butterflies in the Santa Monica Mountains are on butterfly diversity. Although some species are growing at a rapid the verge of extinction, none of them are currently protected by pace, other, more specialized ones are declining. the Endangered Species Act. Butterflies are a vital indicator species due to their sensitivity to Remember, the mission of the National Park Service is to environmental changes. Because butterflies have been captured preserve unimpaired the natural resources of the park system, by enthusiasts for centuries, scientists are able to study long-term so we ask that you please do not catch or hurt the butterflies. shifts in populations, ranges, and . First, areas that are Thank you! 5 6 Basic Lepidoptera Structures Terms and Definitions - a pattern on the wings that resembles an . May intimidate or distract predators.

False Head - tails and eyespots that mimic the antennae and head of a butterfly. Patterns on wings often draw the eye to the false head.

Lepidoptera - the of that includes butterflies and . Means “ wing.”

Overscaling - a heavy patch of scales.

Scale - butterfly wings are composed of microscopic scales.

Stigma - a patch of scent scales found on males that are used during courtship. Common characteristic of hairstreaks and skippers.

Diagram by Simon Coombes Tail - part of the wings that sticks out around the anal angle. 7 8 Swallowtails Papilionidae

The Swallowtails are the largest butterflies in the Santa Monica Mountains. They are easily identifiable by their long tails which mimic antennae. There are only four species of Swallowtails found in the Santa Monica Mountains, and their bright colors and size allow for easy identification.

Note: The Family Papilionidae also includes Parnassions; however, none have been found in the Santa Monica Mountains. 9 10 Western Tiger Swallowtail Swallowtail rutulus Papilio zelicaon

Size: 2 3/4 - 4 inches Size: 2 3/4 - 3 1/2 inches Flight Time: -round Flight Time: year-round Food Plants: sycamore, Food Plants: fennel or cottonwood, , other carrot family alder Wings have yellow Yellow with four rectangles outlined by a vertical, black stripes on wide, black border. Has upperside. Underside an orange eyespot near has two orange spots the tail with a round, near the end of the black center. inner margin. 11 12 Pale Swallowtail Giant Swallowtail Papilio eurymedon

Size: 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 inches Flight Time: Feb-Oct Size: 4 - 6 1/4 inches Food Plants: , Flight Time: Mar-Oct other buckhorn family Food Plants:

Similar to Western Tiger Black with yellow spots Swallowtail, but cream spanning wing to wing. colored instead of Each tail has a yellow yellow. Narrow, pointed spot outlined in black. forewing.

Photo by Randy Philips Photo by Robert Behrstock 13 14 Whites and Sulphurs Pieridae

Subfamily Common Name Subfamily Scientific Name

Whites 15 Sulphurs/Yellows 19

The Whites and Sulphurs are medium to small in size. They are white, yellow, or orange in color and may have black or red markings. Most of the feed on plants from the Mustard family. All adults from this family are feeders. 15 16 Cabbage White Checkered White rapae protodice

Size: 1 3/4 - 2 1/4 inches Size: 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 inches Flight Time: year-round Flight Time: year-round Food Plants: black Food Plants: native and mustard, wild radish, non-native mustards nasturtium White with brown or Upperside white with black checkered pattern gray tips on forewings. on the front of the Males have one dark, pointed wing tip. submarginal spot; females have two.

Photo by Jeffrey Pippen 17 18 Sara Orangetip Becker’s White sara

Size: 1 1/16 - 1 1/2 inches Size: 1 5/8 - 2 inches Flight Time: Feb-June Flight Time: Feb-Aug Food Plants: native Food Plants: bladderpod mustards Upperside white Upperside white with with black spots near orange tips on the forewing tip. Underside forewing. Underside has has green edging along green marbling on the hindwing veins. hindwing.

Photo by Ron Wolf 19 20 Orange Sulphur ( Sulphur) Harford’s Sulphur eurytheme

Size: 1 3/4 - 2 inches Flight Time: Apr-Sept Food Plants: Size: 1 3/8 - 2 3/4 inches (locoweed or Flight Time: year-round rattleweed) Food Plants: pea family, , , vetch, Males are vibrant yellow alfalfa with a black cell spot on the forewing. They Varies white to yellow have a dark forewing to orange with black border and a thinner border on upperside. hindwing border of the Underside has a silver same color. The borders spot on the hindwing. on females are reduced or missing. Photo by Crystal Anderson Photo by Kim Davis and Mike Stangeland 21 22 Sleepy Orange Dainty Sulphur (Dwarf Yellow Sulphur) Abaeis nicippe iole

Size: 1 3/8 - 2 1/4 inches Size: 3/4 - 1 1/4 inches Flight Time: Mar-Oct Flight Time: Mar-Nov Food Plants: Food Plants: sunflower family Upperside orange with a small, black cell This butterfly has spot on the forewing. elongated forewings. Underside can be Underside forewing has a variety of colors, black spots on the edge depending on what of the outer wing and a form it is. Summer yellow to orange patch forms are orange- near the wing base. yellow. can be Upperside has yellow shades or red or brown. and black markings. Photo by Jonathan Wright Photo by Kim Davis and Mike Stangeland 23 24 Cloudless Sulphur Dogface sennae eurydice

Size: 2 - 2 1/2 inches Flight Time: Mar-Sept Size: 2 1/4 - 3 1/8 inches Food Plants: Amorpha Flight Time: Mar-Oct californica (false indigo) Food Plants: cassia This is the California State Upper surface of males Butterfly. is yellow. Females have uneven black borders Vibrant yellow-orange with a on the the edges of the purple . Pattern on wings. Underside of male forewings resembles the hindwing has two pink face of a dog. Females are spots with silver centers. yellow with a black cell spot Photo by Kim Davis and Mike Stangeland on the upper forewing. Photo by Jeffrey Pippen 25 26 Coppers, Hairstreaks, and Blues Lycaenidae

Subfamily Common Name Subfamily Scientific Name

Coppers 27 Hairstreaks Coliadinae 29 Blues 39

There are 21 species of Lycaenids in the Santa Monicas - more than any other family. These butterflies typically have vibrant, iridescent blues, reds, and oranges in their coloring. Adults are usually small to very small. Lycaenid caterpillars are commonly slug shaped and many species produce sugary secretions in exchange for protection by . 27 28 Gorgon Copper Tailed Copper gorgon

Size: 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches Size: 1 1/8 - 1 3/8 inches Flight Time: Apr-July Flight Time: May-July Food Plants: Food Plants: wild currant elongatum (wand or (gooseberry) ) Small tail on hindwing. Upperside copper with Upperside of males is purple tint on males copper with a purple tint. and dark brown with Females are orange with beige and black spots brown wing bases and on females. Both are wide, brown borders on gray with black spots the forewing. Underside on underside with a gray with black spots and submarginal row of red- submarginal crescents on orange spots. hindwing. Photo by Randy Wight Photo by Kim Davis and Mike Stangeland 29 30 Sylvan Hairstreak melinus sylvinus Size: 1 - 1 3/8 inches Size: 7/8 - 1 3/8 inches Flight Time: May-July Flight Time: Feb-Nov Food Plants: willow Food Plants: mallow, buckwheat, coffeeberry, Not all have tails. pea Upperside gray-brown or red-brown with an orange Thin tail on hindwing. mark on the hindwing Underside ranges near the lower edge. from pale to dark Males have a blue tint; gray. Irregular, white females have a yellow postmedian line one. Underside ranges bordered by orange. from gray to white with Upperside is slate with a postmarginal series of red-orange eyespots. black dots. Red to yellow spot near the tail. Photo by Kim Davis and Mike Stangeland Photo by Randy Emmitt 31 32 Bramble Hairstreak (Coastal Green/Perplexing Hairstreak) Hedgerow Hairstreak dumetorum

Size: 1 - 1 1/4 inches Flight Time: Feb-Apr Food Plants: buckwheat, Size: 1 - 1 1/4 inches Ceanothus, deerweed Flight Time: May-July Food Plants: Ceanothus No tail. Underside (wild lilac) turquoise, sometimes with noticable Upperside copper with postmedian line of metallic tint. Underside white spots on the beige to brown with a hindwing. Upperside is slate to blue spot near gray and females have the tail. some yellow in the center of both wings. Photo by Alan Wight Photo by Sally King 33 34 Brown Elfin (Western Elfin) Great halesus Size: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches Size: 1 1/4 - 2 inches Flight Time: Feb-July Flight Time: Mar-Oct Food Plants: Mostly Food Plants: mistletoe dodder, but also in sycamores or Ceanothus cottonwood No tails, but hindwing One short and one is turned downward. long tail on hindwing. Upperside ranges from Upperside is black with gray-brown to red- vibrant blue iridescence. brown. Underside is Underside is black with chesnut brown with metallic gold markings iridescence and a near the tail. dark, postmedian line. is blue on top and red- Hindwing is visibly orange underneath. Photo by Kim Davis and Mike Stangeland darker at the wing base. Photo by Sally King 35 36 California Hairstreak Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak Size: 1 - 1 1/4 inches Size: 1 - 1 1/4 inches Flight Time: May-Aug Flight Time: May-July Food Plants: Ceanothus Food Plants: mountain and mahogany

One long and one short Males have short tail; tail on each hindwing. females have a long Upperside is brown with tail (although it may be an orange spot on the missing). Upperside is hindwing near the tails. gray-brown. Underside Underside is gray-brown is a mossy gray color with orange crescents with an ash overtone. and a blue patch near There is an irregular, the tail. It also has a postmedian white line postmedian curve of and a slate colored spot black spots. near the tail. Photo by Christopher Christie Photo by James Hogue 37 38 Gold-Hunter’s Hairstreak Santa Monica Mountains Hairstreak auretorum Satyrium auretorum fumosum This species is endemic to the Santa Monica Mountains. It is highly localized and threatened by urbanization.

Size: 1 - 1 1/4 inches Size: 1/2 - 5/8 inch Flight Time: May-July Flight Time: Apr-June Food Plants: scrub oak Food Plants: scrub oak

Short tail on hindwing. Looks nearly identical Upperside is red-brown to the Gold-Hunter’s with a yellow tint on Hairstreak. The only females. Underside has noticeable difference is an orange spot near the a darker ground color tail with a black center. on both sides and a more prominent series Photo by Kim Davis, Mike of postmedian spots. Stangeland, and Andrew Warren Photo by Harmut Wisch 39 40 Marine Blue exilis marina

Size: 1/2 - 3/4 inch Size: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches Flight Time: year-round Flight Time: year-round Food Plants: Food Plants: (saltbush) and goosefoot and various pea family

Very small. Upperside The underside of the copper with slate blue forewing has rows of wing bases and white light brown bands that fringe. Underside copper can be seen from the with white wing bases costa to the margin. and markings. Edge of Upperside is blue hindwing has a row of with a purple tint on black circles. Three small males and no white on black dots are near the females. base of the hindwing. Photo by Sally King Photo by Sally King 41 42 “Bernardino” Dotted Blue Euphiltoes bernardino acmon Size: 11/16 - 13/16 inch Flight Time: Apr-Aug Food Plants: California Size: 3/4 - 1 1/8 inches buckwheat Flight Time: Feb-Nov Food Plants: deerweed, Males have blue upperside buckwheat with a thin, black border on the outer margin. Upperside of males Females are brown blue, females brown. and have an orange, Both sides have submarginal band on the an orange-pink upper hindwing. Both are submarginal band. off-white on the underside Underside white with and have black spots and black spots. an orange postmedian

(c) 2007 Ron Hemberger band on the hindwing. 43 44 Silvery Blue Western Tailed Blue lygdamus amyntula

Size: 7/8 - 1 1/4 inches Size: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches Flight Time: Feb-May Flight Time: Feb-Sept Food Plants: Lotus Food Plants: Astragalus scoparius (deerweed) (locoweed or rattleweed) Upperside of males is silvery blue with thin, Tiny, thin tail. Upperside black borders and white blue to brown-blue. fringe. Female is darker Upper wings have black blue with wide, black edging. Underside borders and white fringe. white with black Underside is gray-brown markings and an orange and hindwing has a spot near the tail. crooked row of black dots outlined in white. 45 46 Spring Azure Ceraunus Blue ladon ceraunus

Size: 3/4 - 1 1/8 inches Size: 7/8 - 1 3/8 inches Flight Time: Mar-Oct Flight Time: Feb-July Food Plants: pea family Food Plants: Ceanothus (wild lilac) Underside is gray with a row of postmedian dashes on Upperside silvery blue each wing. For Southwest with black outer edge species, the hindwing has on forewing of females. two submarginal eyespots. Underside varies from Upperside of males is blue; pale gray with faint females is dark brown, dots to darker gray with usually with blue wing bases. larger, black spots.

Photo by Edith Smith 47 48 Sonoran Blue

Size: 7/8 - 1 inch Flight Time: Mar-Apr Food Plants: lance- leaved dudleya

The only Blue in with red spots on the forewing. Hindwing of female also has red spots. Upperside is silvery blue.

Photo by Jonathan Wright 49 50

Metalmarks Riodinidae

Metalmarks range from small to medium in size. Species have lots of variation of patterns, posture, and behavior. It is easy to identify sex on Metalmarks because females will have three pairs of walking legs, but males will only have two. Their front legs are reduced.

Note: Unlike the other families, Metalmarks do not have subfamilies. Instead, the Metalmarks are divided into “Tribes.” Both of the Santa Monica Mountains species are from the . 51 52 Fatal/Dusky Metalmark Mormon Metalmark nemesis mormo Size: 7/8 - 1 1/4 inches Flight Time: Mar-Nov Food Plants: California Size: 3/4 - 1 inch buckwheat Flight Time: Feb-Oct Food Plants: mule fat, Upperside ranges in bush sunflower color from orange- brown to black and Forewings on males has white and black are pointed. Upperside spots. There is a patch is brown with dark, on the upperside and irregular median bands underside forewings on both wings. that ranges from tan to red. Underside is gray and orange with white Photo by Stephen Holloway Photo by Alan Wight spots. 53 54 Brushfoots Nymphalidae

Subfamily Common Name Subfamily Scientific Name

Fritillaries and Heliconians 55 Anglewings, Checkerspots, Crescents 57 Admirals and Sisters 68 Nymphs and 70 Milkweed Butterflies 72 There are more species in the Nymphalidae family than any other family. Brushfoots have a lot of variation. Sizes can vary from small to large. All adults have reduced front legs which can not be used for walking. They are commonly orange, yellow, brown, or black. Some adults can live 6-11 months, the most of any butterfly. 55 56 “Comstock’s” Callippe Fritillary Agraulis vanillae callippe comstocki

Size: 2 1/2 - 3 3/4 inches Flight Time: year-round Food Plants: passionvine Size: 2 - 2 1/2 inches Flight Time: May-July Bright orange with Food Plants: violets black markings and elongated forewings. Upperside orange Three white spots to red-brown with outlined in black on the evenly spaced, black edge of the forewing. markings. Underside has Underside brown with silver spots, including an orange forewing three triagular shaped base and large, submarginal ones iridescent silver spots. edged in brown.

Copyright Lynette Schimming Photo by Kim Davis and Mike Stangeland 57 58 Variable/Chalcedon Checkerspot Painted Lady chalcedona cardui Size: 2 - 2 7/8 inches Size: 1 1/4 - 2 1/4 inches Flight Time: year-round Flight Time: Apr-June Food Plants: thistle, mallow, Food Plants: bush lupine, fiddleneck, among monkeyflower and others other figwort family Upperside orange and brown Highly variable. with darker wing bases. Forewing is narrow. Forewing tips have a black Upperside ranges from patch with a white bar on the dark orange-brown to leading edge of the wing. black and may have Hindwing on both sides have yellow, red, or white four submarginal black spots, spots. There are yellow sometimes with blue scaling. and orange bands Underside is a gray, brown, underneath the wings. Photo by Alan Wight Photo by Sally King and black pattern. 59 60 Common Buckeye Mourning Cloak coenia antiopa

Size: 1 5/8 - 2 3/4 inches Size: 2 1/4 - 4 inches Flight Time: Feb-Nov Flight Time: year-round Food Plants: plantain, Food Plants: willow, snapdragon, cottonwood monkeyflower Black with yellow Light brown with two border on wings. Row orange bars on the of bright blue spots front wings and four above yellow border. eyespots on each side. Short projections The larger hindwing on hindwings and eyespot is the upper forewings. one, and it contains a pink-purple crescent. Photo by Jonathan Wright Photo by Alan Wight 61 62 Red Admiral Vanessa annabella

Size: 1 1/2 - 2 1/4 inches Size: 1 3/4 - 3 inches Flight Time: year-round Flight Time: year-round Food Plants: mallows, Food Plants: nettles especially cheeseweed; nettle Black with white spots on the wing tips. Red- Upperside orange and orange median band brown with an orange on forewing and red- bar on the front edge orange marginal band of the forewing. Three on hindwing. to four blue spots on the hindwing. Picture copyright 2006 J.K. Lindsey Note: Despite its name, the Red Admiral is actually considered to be a

Photo by Jonathan Wright “True Brushfoot,” NOT an “Admiral.” 63 64 Mylitta/Thistle Crescent mylitta Vanessa virginiensis

Size: 1 3/4 - 2 5/8 inches Size: 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 inches Flight Time: year-round Flight Time: Mar-Oct Food Plants: Food Plants: native and non-native thistles (everlasting)

Upperside is vibrant Upperside orange with orange with narrow, a black apical patch on dark brown markings. forewing tip. Below Underside is yellow- the patch is an orange orange with blurry red- marking with a white orange markings. spot. Underside of hindwing has two large eyespots. Photo by Alan Wight Photo by Kim Davis and Mike Stangeland 65 66 Satyr Comma/Satyr Anglewing Nymphalis californica

Size: 1 3/4 - 2 1/2 inches Size: 1 1/4 - 2 3/4 inches Flight Time: Feb-Sept Flight Time: Apr-Sept Food Plants: stinging Food Plants: Ceanothus nettle (wild lilac)

Conspicuous wing Jagged wing edges. edges. Golden-orange Orange-brown with with black patches and dark wing borders and a dark border on the large black patches forewing. Underside on the edge of the resembles a dead leaf front wing. Underside when wings are closed. resembles a dead leaf and has dark wing bases. Photo copyright Michelle Brodie Photo by Kim Davis and Mike Stangeland 67 68 Gabb’s Checkerspot California Sister gabbii bredowii californica

Size: 2 1/2 - 4 inches Size: 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches Flight Time: Mar-Oct Flight Time: Mar-July Food Plants: Food Plants: wooly aster, telegraph weed, Upperside is brown- other asters black with large, orange patches near the Upperside has an brown-black wing tips. orange-brown and A white band of spots black checkered spans the forewing to pattern. The median the hindwing on either band is slightly lighter side. Underside has in color. The underside blue bands near the of the hindwing has base and the hindwing pearl-white spots. margin. Used with permission of www.laspilitas.com 69 70 Lorquin’s Admiral “California” Common lorquini tullia california

Size: 2 - 2 5/8 inches Flight Time: Apr-Oct Size: 1 1/3 - 1 1/2 inches Food Plants: Flight Time: Feb-Sept Food Plants: bunch Upperside is black- grasses brown with white median bands on Cream and beige forewing and hindwing. pattern with tiny black The most distiguishable dots on the wings. characteristic from the Underside of hindwing California Sister is the is an ashy-moss coloring orange wing tips. with a wavy, white median line.

Photo by Jonathan Wright 71 72

Great Basin Wood Nymph Monarch sthenele silvestris plexippus

Size: 1 3/8 - 1 3/4 inch Flight Time: May-Aug Size: 3 3/8 - 4 7/8 inches Food Plants: bunch grasses Flight Time: year-round Food Plants: milkweed Brown upperside with two eyespots - they are small Upperside bright in males, larger in females. orange with black veins Eyespots are equidistant and wide, black borders. to the outer edge of the Upperside of female has wing. On the underside of blurred black veins and the hind wing, an irregular is more orange-brown. dark line separates the White spots are found lighter, outer half from the on the borders and the darker, half. apex. Photo by Sally King 73 74 Danaus gilippus

Size: 2 5/8 - 3 7/8 inches Flight Time: Mar-Nov Food Plants: milkweed

Upperside is chesnut brown with black borders. There are two rows of white dots on the forewing borders. Underside of hindwing has black veins. Both wings have black borders with two rows of white dots. Photo by Sally King 75 76 Skippers Hesperiidae

Subfamily Common Name Subfamily Scientific Name

Spread-wing Skippers Pyrginae 77 Hesperiinae 82

Unlike the other families who are all members of the Superfamily , Skippers are members of the Superfamily Hesperoidea. Skippers are medium to small in size. Though a few have iridescent colors, most are orange, brown, black, white, or gray. Species from this family are easily identifiable by their large , stout bodies, and short antennae that are often shaped like hooked clubs. 77 78 Northern White Mournful Heliopetes ericetorum

Size: 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches Flight Time: Feb-Oct Size: 1 1/4 - 1 15/16 inches Food Plants: mallows, Flight Time: Feb-Sept especially bush mallow Food Plants: oaks

Upperside of males Upperside dark brown is white with black with a lighter brown markings at outer pattern. Hindwing has margin. Females are white fringe. Underside dark at the wing base is dark brown with a and have thicker, dark line of white spots near markings. Both have a the margin. white underside with beige markings. Photo by Alan Wight Photo by Alan Wight 79 80 Funereal Duskywing White Checkered Skipper albescens

Size: 1 - 1 1/2 inches Size: 1 5/16 - 1 3/4 inches Flight Time: Mar-Oct Flight Time: Feb-Oct Food Plants: mallows Food Plants: deerweed and other pea family Upperside ranges from blue-gray to black Narrow, pointed with large, white spots forewing and triangular forming a median band hindwing. Upperside is across both wings. black and forewing has Underside is dull white a dull brown patch at with charcoal bands. the cell.

Photo by Kim Davis and Mike Stangeland 81 82 Duskywing Hylephila phyleus

Size: 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches Flight Time: year-round Size: 1 3/8 - 1 3/4 inches Food Plants: grasses, Flight Time: Mar-June including crab grass Food Plants: coast live oak Very short antennae. Underside of males Upperside brown has small black spots; with gray overscaling. underside of females Hindwing has light light brown with pale spots. checks. Males have black stigma. Upperside of females is dark brown and orange. Photo by Barry Breckling Photo by Alan Wight 83 84 Woodland Skipper Sandhill Skipper sylvanoides sabuleti

Size: 1 - 1 1/4 inches Size: 7/8 - 1 1/4 inches Flight Time: July-Oct Flight Time: Apr-Sept Food Plants: grasses, Food Plants: saltgrasses including rye grass Yellow-orange to brown Upperside orange with with dark, jagged reddish-brown markings. borders on upperside. Males have a large black Hindwing underside stigma; females have a black has yellow veins in a diagonal band. Underside cobweb pattern around ranges from red to yellow to dark chevrons. Dark brown, and hindwing may spots at outer margin be completely unmarked where veins end. or have a band of cream or

Photo by Alan Wight yellow spots. Photo by Kim Davis and Mike Stangeland 85 86 Rural Skipper Umber Skipper melane

Size: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches Flight Time: Apr-July Size: 1 1/4 - 1 3/8 inches Food Plants: grasses Flight Time: Jan-Nov Food Plants: grasses Upperside is yellow- orange with black Upperside is brown with borders and a pale spots and a golden translucent spot near band on hindwing. the tip of the upper Underside is brown with wing. Underside is rust larger, lighter colored colored. spots. Females are lighter in color.

Photo by Kim Davis and Mike Stangeland Photo by Alan Wight 87 88 Orange Sachem aurantiaca

Size: 1 1/4 - 1 5/8 inches Flight Time: Apr-Nov Food Plants: grasses Size: 3/4 - 1 1/8 inches Flight Time: Apr-Sept Males are yellow- Food Plants: grasses orange with a large black stigma and brown Both sides are orange. borders. Females are Males have a thin, black yellow-brown to dark stigma on the forewing brown with a square- below the cell. Females shaped clear spot at the may have black edging end of the forewing on the forewing. cell. Underside of females is brown with white spots. Photo by Kim Davis and Mike Stangeland Photo by Greg Lasley 89 90 Eufala Skipper eufala errans

Size: 1 - 1 1/4 inches Size: 1 - 1 1/4 inches Flight Time: Jun-Nov Flight Time: July-Sept Food Plants: grasses Food Plants: Saltgrasses

Upperside is gray Upperside is mossy- brown with 3-5 small, brown with a row of clear spots on the small, transparent spots forewing. Underside on the forewing only. is brown, with heavy, The underside of the gray overscaling on the hindwing is brown with hindwing. a short curve of 3-5 light spots.

Photo by Kim Davis and Mike Stangeland Photo by Dennis Walker 91 92 Index Eufala Skipper 89 Lycaena arota 28 Abaeis nicippe 21 45 benardino 41 27 Acmon Blue 42 Ceraunus Blue 46 Euphydryas chalcedona 57 Marine Blue 40 californica 68 silvestris 71 Fatal Metalmark 51 Monarch 72 Agraulis vanillae 55 Chalcedon Checkerspot 57 Fiery Skipper 82 Mormon Metalmark 52 Alfalfa Sulphur 19 Checkered White 16 Funereal Duskywing 79 Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak 36 American Lady 64 Chlosyne gabii 67 Gabb’s Checkerspot 67 Mournful Duskywing 78 Anise Swallowtail 10 Cloudless Sulphur 23 Giant Swallowtail 12 Mourning Cloak 60 17 Coastal 43 Mylitta Crescent 63 52 (see Bramble Hairstreak) Gold-Hunters Hairstreak 37 22 Atalopedes campestris 88 california 70 Gorgon Copper 27 Northern White Skipper 77 Atlides halesus 34 19 Gray Hairstreak 29 60 Becker’s White 18 Colias harfordii 20 Great Basin Wood Nymph 71 Nymphalis californica 66 Bramble Hairstreak 32 Common Buckeye 59 34 Ochlodes agricola 85 Bernardino Dotted Blue 41 “Comstock’s” Callippe Fritillary 56 Gulf Fritillary 55 83 Brephidium exilis 39 87 Harford’s Sulphur 20 Orange Skipperling 87 Brown Elfin 33 Cupido amyntula 44 Hedgerow Hairstreak 31 Orange Sulphur 19 Cabbage White 15 Dainty Sulphur 22 Heliopetes ericetorum 77 Painted Lady 58 51 Danaus gilippus 73 46 Pale Swallowtail 11 “California” Common Ringlet 70 Danaus plexippus 72 Hylephila phyleus 82 Panoquina errans 90 California Dogface 24 Dusky Metalmark 51 59 Papilio cresphontes 12 California Hairstreak 35 Dwarf Yellow 40 Papilio eurymedon 11 California Sister 68 (see Dainty Sulphur) 89 Papilio rutulus 9 California Tortoiseshell 66 Erynnis funeralis 79 Limenitis lorquini 69 Papilio zelicaon 10 Callophrys augustinus 33 Erynnis propertius 81 Lorquin’s Admiral 69 Perplexing Hairstreak 32 Erynnis tristis 78 (see Bramble Hairstreak) 93 94

Philotes sonorensis 47 Satyrium tetra 36 This guide was compiled and published by: 23 Silvery Blue 43 63 Sleepy Orange 21 Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area 15 Sonoran Blue 47 National Park Service Plebejus acmon 42 comstocki 56 86 Spring Azure 45 401 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 84 Strymon melinus 29 Telephone: (805) 370-2300 65 Sylvan Hairstreak 30 Website: www.nps.gov/samo Pontia beckerii 18 Tailed Copper 28 16 Thistle Crescent 63 Propertius Duskywing 81 Umber Skipper 86 Created by Abigail Palace. Published Aug. 2011. Pyrgus albescens 80 Vanessa annabella 61 Queen 73 Vanessa atalanta 62 Red Admiral 62 58 SMMNRA would like to give special thanks to Dr. James Hogue of California Rural Skipper 85 Vanessa virginiensis 64 Sachem 88 57 State University, Northridge. SMMNRA also thanks the many photographers and Sandhill Skipper 84 Wandering Skipper 90 organizations for granting permission to use their photos in this guide. Santa Monica Mountains Hairstreak 38 West Coast Lady 61 Sara Orangetip 17 Western Elfin Satyr Anglewing 65 (see Brown Elfin) Identification information courtesy of Butterflies and Moths of North America. Satyr Comma 65 Western Pygmy Blue 39 Species list courtesy of Fred Heath. For more information on butterflies, please Satyrium auretorum 37 Western Tailed Blue 44 Satyrium auretorum fumosum 38 Western Tiger Swallowtail 9 visit the BAMONA website: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org. Satyrium californica 35 White Checkered Skipper 80 Satyrium saepium 31 Woodland Skipper 83 Satyrium sylvinus 30 24 All photos by Abigail Palace unless otherwise noted.