Butterfly Anatomy A Region Specific Guide to Butterflies of Dorsum (Upperside) (DW) South Puget Sound, Washington
Club Rod Gilbert and Ann Potter Antenna
Thorax Dorsal Fore Wing (DFW) Abdomen
Dorsal Hind Wing (DHW)
Ventrum (Underside) (VW)
Ventral Fore Wing (VFW)
Eye Proboscis Ventral Hind Wing (VHW)
Text by Ann Potter and Rod Gilbert. All photos by Rod Gilbert unless otherwise stated. This item may not be reproduced, except for personal use, or sold without the author’s written permission. Flight periods are specific to SPS. March 2014. Report rare or species of conservation concern to: [email protected] Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus
Habitat: Open flowery plac- es, riparian, parks, gardens
Flight period: May - July
Larval host: Legumes
Notes: Large turtle shaped white marking on VHW and orange patches on DFW. Remarkable looking butter- fly. Uncommon in WA.
Randy Emmitt Dreamy Duskywing Erynnis icelus
Habitat: Woodland edges and openings
Flight period: May - June
Larval host: Willows, pop- lars, locusts Randy Emmitt Notes: < 1.5” Uncommon locally. A few known oc- currences in Mason Co. No hyaline spots on DFW. Re- port sightings. Propertius Duskywing Erynnis propertius
Habitat: Oak woodlands and adjacent grasslands, forest openings
Flight period: L Apr - E June
Larval host: Garry oak obligate
Notes: Largest Duskywing skipper in our region. < 1.75” Rare. Species of conservation concern in W WA. Difficult to ID. Re- port any sighting. Extant at Bald Hills.
Persius Duskywing Erynnis persius
Habitat: Meadows, glades, mountains
Flight period: May - June
Larval host: Legumes
Notes: < 1.5” Mostly mon- Ron Wolf tane. Difficult to ID. Re- port sightings. Two-banded Checkered Skipper Notes Pyrgus ruralis Book resources for detailed descriptions and more information on Pacific Habitat: Meadows, prai- Northwest butterflies: ries, glades, road edges The Butterflies of Cascadia (Pyle) Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies (James and Nunallee) Flight period: L Apr - May An Atlas of Washington Butterflies (Hinchliff)
Larval host: Cinquefoil, Web: http://butterfliesofamerica.com strawberry
Notes: Moth-like and small. D&V wings and margins checkered with white squares.
Arctic Skipper Carterocephalus palaemon
Habitat: Wet meadows, streambanks, forest open- ings
Flight period: May - E June
Larval host: Wet habitat Tom Murray grasses
Notes: Can’t be confused with any other Skipper. DW have bright orange cells and VHW has out- lined creamy orbs. Caitlin LaBar Common Wood Nymph Juba Skipper Cercyonis pegala incana Hesperia juba
Habitat: Grasslands, mead- Habitat: Prairies, grass- ows, roadsides, forest glades lands
Flight period: July - E Sept Flight period: May and L July - E Sept Larval host: Grasses Larval host: Grasses Notes: Common, large, > 2” Dark brown to often almost Notes: Largish skipper, black. Prominent concentric > 1.5” Pale apical spots circle eye spots on DFW and and dorsal pattern of black VFW. Weak flight pattern. margins pointing inward. Head and upper abdomen often greenish pubescent. Difficult to identify (see Oregon Branded Skipper) Uncommon in SPS.
Monarch Oregon Branded Skipper Danaus plexippus Hesperia colorado oregonia
Habitat: Any locally Habitat: Prairies, grasslands
Flight period: May - Sept Flight period: L July - E Sept Larval host: Milkweeds Larval host: Grasses and Notes: Rare transitory sedges. World Wildlife Fund migrant. Host does not occur in SPS. Occasionally Notes: < 1.25” ♀’s greenish, released by humans. ♂’s tawny orange. Clear cream rectangular cells with leading edges, distinct mark- ings on VHW. Rare, species of conservation concern. Report sightings. Mardon Skipper Lorquin’s Admiral Polites mardon mardon Limenitis lorquini
Habitat: Prairies, native Habitat: Most habitats ex- grasslands, meadows cept forest interior, wide- ranged Flight period: E May - M June Flight period: June - Aug
Larval host: Roemer’s Larval host: Willows, as- fescue and CA oatgrass pen, cottonwood, hard- hack, ocean spray, apple Notes: < 1” Small tawny skipper. Strongly rectan- Notes: White band of gular cells in VHW discal rounded rectangular cells band. Difficult to ID across V and D wings. (compare to Sonora Skip- Watch for look-alike Cali- per). Rare. Species of con- fornia Sister, which is an- servation concern, report ticipated but not yet rec- sightings. orded for SPS. Ochre Ringlet Kim and Mike Strangeland Sonora Skipper Coenonympha tullia euno- Polites sonora siris mia
Habitat: Meadows, prai- Habitat: Grasslands, road- ries, pastures, roadsides, sides, pastures stream banks Flight period: L Apr-E Flight period: E June - M June, M July - E Sept. July Multiple generations per year Larval host: Grasses Kim and Mike Strangeland Larval host: Grasses Notes: Small, rectangular cells in symmetrical semi- Notes: Creamy-orange circular pattern enclosing FW, light to dark tan HW, basal spot on VHW. Diffi- with irregular white bands. cult to ID (compare to Weak flight pattern. Mardon Skipper). Species of conservation concern, report sightings. Painted Lady Woodland Skipper Vanessa cardui Ochlodes sylvanoides
Habitat: All habitats Habitat: Open, grassy are- as, including urban areas Flight period: Anytime. Most likely Apr - June and Flight period: L July - M Aug - Oct Sept
Larval host: Thistles fa- Larval host: Grasses vored, but a wide diversity of hosts may be used Notes: Widespread, com- mon. Often the only skip- Notes: Widespread, com- per flying locally during mon. White mark on DFW the late summer leading edge (orange in other ladies). Populations erupt in north-flowing emigration events, does not occur in WA every year. Sometimes re-
Red Admiral Jeffrey Pippen Dun Skipper Vanessa atalanta Euphyes vestris
Habitat: Most habitats ex- Habitat: Woodland edge, cept forest, wide-ranged grasslands, watercourses, wetlands, prairie Flight period: May - Aug Flight period: May - June Larval host: Nettles Larval host: Carex spp. Notes: Common. Wide or- ange margins on bottom of Jeffrey Pippen Notes: Chocolate brown col- DHW, orange band on or. Fresh individuals often DFW. Mottled, bark-like with a purple iridescence. VHW. Wings are often immaculate (esp. males), though many indi- viduals (esp. females) have small, white marks on the DFW or VHW. Kim and Mike Strangeland Clodius Parnassian Jeffrey Pippen American Lady Parnassius clodius Vanessa virginiensis
Habitat: Open woodlands, Habitat: Fields, parks, gar- roadsides, clearings dens
Flight period: M May - July Flight period: Anytime, most likely Aug - Oct Larval host: Bleeding heart Kim and Mike Strangeland Larval host: Pearly ever- Notes: < 3” Only Parnassian lasting, pussytoes in SPS. Outer FWs are waxy and translucent. Ap- Notes: Rare. Not docu- pears to be large, dirty-white mented in Pierce or butterfly until closer inspec- Thurston Co. Sometimes tion. released by humans. Or- nate and complex pat- terned VHW with two prominent eye spots.
Dennis Deck Jeffrey Pippen Anise Swallowtail West Coast Lady Papilio zelicaon Vanessa annabella
Habitat: Every habitat ex- Habitat: Meadows, marsh- cept deep woods es, gardens
Flight period: L Apr - July Flight period: June - Oct Multiple generations per year Larval host: Mallows, net- tles Larval host: Carrot family Erik Runquist Notes: Row of prominent Notes: Common. Broad blue spots with black black border along leading bands around on the edge of DFW. DHW. Populations erupts in north-flowing emigra- tion events, does not occur in WA every year. Mourning Cloak Western Tiger Swallow- Nymphalis antiopa tail Papilio rutulus Habitat: Riparian, glades, wet meadows, roadsides Habitat: Most habitats
Flight period: M Feb - E Flight period: May - July June, July - Sept. Adults overwinter Larval host: Broadleaf trees, incl. big leaf maple, Larval host: Willows, al- willows, aspen, cotton- ders, maples, poplars, ros- wood, cherries es, hardhack Notes: Common. Yellow, Notes: > 3” Widespread, with broad black border distinct. One of the earli- on trailing edge of wings. est butterflies to fly. DFW has broad, black Brown with cream leading stripes. (see Pale Tiger edge on D and V wings. Swallowtail).
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell Pale Tiger Swallowtail Nymphalis milberti Papilio eurymedon
Habitat: Riparian, glades, Habitat: Open woodlands, wet meadows, roadsides shrubby open areas
Flight period: Mar - May, Flight period: May - July July - Sept. Adults over- winter Larval host: Red alder, cascara, ocean spray, ser- Larval host: Stinging nettle viceberry & bittercherry
Notes: Large contiguous Notes: Common. Light orange band along DWs. cream to chalk white with broad black border on trailing edge of wings (see Western Tiger Swallow- tail). Pine White Bugguide.net Oreas Anglewing Neophasia menapia Polygonia oreas
Habitat: Coniferous for- Habitat: Forest edge, ests, urban neighborhoods streams, clearings, meadows
Flight period: L July - Sept Flight period: Mar - June, and July - Sept. Adults over- Larval host: Conifers winter
Larval host: Currants (Ribes Notes: Extensive black Ron Wolf markings on leading edge spp) of FW. Often in forest canopy. Weak, floppy Notes: Very rare in SPS. flight pattern. Very dark VW with 90° ‘V’ shaped comma marking.
Margined White California Tortoiseshell Pieris marginalis Nymphalis californica
Habitat: Forest edge, road- Habitat: Montane meadows, sides, glades shrublands
Flight period: May - June, Flight period: Mar - May and and Aug. Two generations Aug - Sept. Adults overwinter per year Larval host: Ceanothus spp Larval host: Mustards Notes: Uncommon below Notes: < 2” Sometimes yel- 1000’. Color pattern resem- lowish with deep green ve- bles anglewings and commas: nation. Summer brood bark-like VWs and bright often without veins. orange DWs. Satyr Anglewing Cabbage White Polygonia satyrus Pieris rapae
Habitat: Forest openings, Habitat: Virtually every forest edge, riparian habitat type except forest
Flight period: Mar - June, Flight period: M Mar - Kim and MikeJuly Strangeland- Sept. Adults over- Sept. Many generations winter per year
Larval host: Primarily Larval host: Mustards in- stinging nettle, willows cluding garden cruciferous vegetables Notes: One of the earliest butterflies to fly. Wide- Notes: Common, intro- spread. Most common of duced. Easily ID’d by the Polygonias. Difficult to black tip and spots on FW. ID from others. Comma marking not a 90° ‘V’.
Green Comma, Faun Sara’s Orangetip Anglewing ♂ Anthocharis sara Polygonia faunus Habitat: Open natural habi- Habitat: Forest openings, tat incl. balds, prairies and corridors, riparian, meadows adjacent to for- Flight period: E Apr - E ests June
Flight period: Mar - June, Larval host: Native mus- July - Sept. Adults over- tards Kim and Mike Strangeland winter. Notes: ♂ and ♀s have outer Larval host: Willows, al- orange tips on DFW and der, birch, aspen VFW. ♀s have pastel yellow centers, ♂s have white Notes: < 2” Rare. Comma (shown). marking rounded. Distinct yellow spots on DHW. Of- ten green hairs on thorax. Kim and Mike Strangeland Clouded Sulphur Mylitta Crescent Colias philodice eriphyle Phyciodes mylitta
Habitat: Open areas, Habitat: Prairies, marshes, roads, meadows, yards, meadows, forest glades, alfalfa fields roadsides, open fields
Flight period: L July - Sept Flight period: L Apr - Sept. Multiple generations per Larval host: Legumes year. Norbert Kondla Larval host: Thistles Notes: Rare. In W WA we Caitlin LeBar see summer migrants from Notes: Widespread, com- the south and east. Individ- mon. Prominent orange uals encountered in our crescents on VHW region typically fly by fast! Difficult to distinguish from Orange Sulphur.
T. W. Davies Orange Sulphur Taylor’s Checkerspot Colias eurytheme Euphydryas editha taylori
Habitat: Meadows, prai- Habitat: Prairies, balds, ries, yards, parks, open areas Flight period: M Apr - E June Flight period: L July - Sept Larval host: English plan- Larval host: Legumes tain, Indian paintbrush
Notes: Small orange patch- Notes: Strong, orange, es on central DHW and cream and black checkered DFW. In W WA we see pattern. Federally listed summer migrants from the Endangered. Report sight- south and east. Difficult to ings ASAP. distinguish from Clouded Sulphur. Hydaspe Fritillary Purplish Copper Speyeria hydaspe Lycaena helloides ♂ Habitat: Moist areas, mon- Habitat: Any habitat ex- tane, forest glades, riparian cept deep forest or alpine
NPS.GOV Flight period: E July - Sept Flight period: May - Sept, more common late summer Larval host: Violets Larval host: Smartweeds, Notes: < 2.25” Rare below docks (Polygonum, Rumex 1000’ elevation. VHW rusty spp) to maroon; discal spots cream or yellow, typically Notes: Prominent orange not silver. chevrons on HW. Com- mon.
Western Meadow Fritil- Mariposa Copper lary Lycaena mariposa Bolaria epithore Habitat: Bogs, wet mead- Habitat: Clearings, mead- ows, clearings >1000’ ows, stream sides, open slopes, balds, forest edge Flight period: Summer. Flight periods not well Flight period: May - June known for SPS ♂ ♀ Larval host: Violets Larval host: Heath family, esp. huckleberries Notes: < 1.75” VHW mott- led lavender. Lacking Notes: Very unlikely in prominent discal spots like SPS . Frosty VHW. Speyeria fritillaries. Bramble Green Hair- Puget Sound Fritillary, streak ♂ (Great Spangled Fritil- Callophrys dumetorum Bramblelary) Green Hair- streak Speyeria cybele pugetensis Habitat: Forest clearings Callophrys perplexa
Habitat: Prairie, oak-pine Flight period: L Apr - E Habitat:glades, Forest roadsides, clearings riparian, June forest glades
Flight period:Flight period:L Apr - EL June Larval host: Lotus spp June - Sept ♀ Larval host: Violets Notes: Rare and localized Larval host:Notes: Lotus Large spp < 3” ♂♀ di- in W WA, chiefly Mason morphic. ♂ orange/black ♀ and west Thurston Cos. Notes: Raredark andbrown localized w/creamy The only green butterfly in in W Wa,bands chiefly along Mason, outer w edges. W WA. ThurstonSilver Cos. spots The ononly VHW are green butterflysmall and in widelyW Wa. spaced.
♂ ♀
Cedar Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus Dennis Deck Habitat: Forest edge, road- sides, always near cedar
Flight period: May - June
Larval host: Western red Valley Silverspot, cedar (Zerene Fritillary) Dennis Deck Speyeria zerene bremnerii Notes: Always near host. Habitat: Prairies, mead- Brown with white, ventral ows, forest edge, roadsides zig-zag pattern, sometimes Flight period: E July - Sept very faint. Uncommon. Larval host: Viola adunca Tailed. Keep an eye out for Notes: < 2.5” large silver Johnson’s Hairstreak, an orbs on VHW prominent old-growth obligate look and close together. Rare. alike not yet documented Species of concern, report in SPS. sightings. Silvery Blue Brown Elfin Glaucopsyche lygdamus Callophrys augustinus
Habitat: Meadows, ripari- Habitat: Wide ranging, an, swales, prairies any open habitats, open shrub and woodlands Flight period: L Apr - E June Flight period: L Apr - E June Larval host: Legumes ♂ Larval host: Many spp in Notes: Common. DW di- of heath family (Ericaceae) Jim Moore morphic for M/F: ♂ blue, roses, Oregon grape, salal, ♀ brownish. Prominent kinnikinnick white-ringed black spots in single row on VHW and no Notes: Copper-brown with ♀ markings outside this row small black spots in single row on VWs.
Puget Blue Hoary Elfin Plebejus icarioides black- Callophrys polios morei Habitat: Prairies, open Habitat: Prairie endemic rocky areas, balds
Flight period: L May - E Flight period: L Apr - E July June
Larval host: Sickle-keeled Larval host: Kinnikinnick lupine obligate ♀ Notes: DW dimorphic for Notes: < 1” Rare and high- M/F: ♂ blue, ♀ brownish. ly localized. Brownish, VHW with indistinct black with row of white dashes spots with fuzzy white ha- on VFW. Frost-like los. Typically some spots (hoary) markings on are only white halos. Rare. VHW. Species of conser- Species of conservation con- vation concern, report cern, report sightings. sightings. Butterflies of America Pine Elfin Dennis Deck Western Tailed Blue Callophrys eryphon shel- Cupido amyntula tonensis Habitat: Meadows, prairies, Habitat: Pine trees and balds Dennis Deck pine forest edge Flight period: L Apr - E Flight period: L Apr - E June June Larval host: Legumes Larval host: Pine (needles) Dennis Deck Notes: < 1.25” Tiny tails on Notes: < 1.25” Localized in HW, chalky white VW. W WA where ponderosa or lodgepole pine occurs. Heavy, black zig-zagging pattern on VHW. Rare.
Kim and Mike Strangeland Gray Hairstreak Spring Azure, Echo Blue Strymon melinus Celastrina argiolus
Habitat: All habitats incl. Habitat: Woodsy, shrubby, urban except deep forest riparian areas, prairies and alpine Flight period: Apr - June, Flight period: May - Aug and Aug. Two generations Multiple generations per per year year Larval host: Red osier dog- Kim and Mike Strangeland Larval host: Wide range of wood, elderberries, ma- hosts incl. legumes, roses, drona, ocean spray, mallow, oak, pine Notes: Faint chevron pat- Notes: < 1.5” Widespread. terning on outer VWs. Com- Dramatic and noticeable mon esp. in spring. DW tails (hairstreaks) with or- dimorphic for ♂/♀: ♂ blue, ange patch at their base. ♀ brownish.