New & Features “A butterfly’s lifespan generally cor- responds with the size of the butterfly,” Spotting Butterflies says Ulsh. The tiny blues often seen in the mountains generally only live about How, when and where to find Lepidoptera in 10 days. Some species, however, will the Cascades and Olympics overwinter in the egg, pupa or chrysalid form (in the cocoon prior to becoming winged adults). A few Northwest spe- cies overwinter as adults, and one—the mourning cloak—lives for ten months, and is the longest lived butterfly in North America. The first thing that butterflies do upon emerging from the chrysalis and unfold- ing their wings is to breed. In their search for mates, some butterflies “hilltop,” or stake out spots on high trees or ridgelines to make themselves more prominent. A butterfly’s wing colors serve two distinct purposes. The dorsal, or upperside of the wings, are colorful, and serve to attract mates. The ventral, or underside of the wings generally serves to camouflage the insects. So a butterfly such as the satyr comma has brilliant orange and yellow Western tiger and pale tiger swallowtail butterflies “puddling.” When looking for for spots when seen with wings open, and butterflies along the trail keep an eye on moist areas or meadows with flowers. a bark-like texture to confuse predators when its wings are closed. By Andrew Engelson Butterfly Association, about where, how As adults, butterflies also seek out Photos by Idie Ulsh and when to look for butterflies in our nectar and water. Butterflies generally mountains. Ulsh is an accomplished Butterflies are the teasers of wildlife. find nectar from wildflowers, but some photographer, and her photos grace the species may nectar on tree sap or even There you are, hiking a trail through a fantastic guide book, The Butterflies of sun-dappled alder grove when a flash of rotting material. Males replenish levels Cascadia by Robert Michael Pyle. Ulsh of testosterone by obtaining mineral yellow and black flutters into your view. generously allowed Washington Trails to The butterfly settles on a salmonberry salts from puddles and streams. This publish photos of 28 species found in the “puddling’ behavior in wet places is often leaf, and just as you’ve pulled out your Cascades or Olympics. camera, it silently flits away. a good opportunity to spot groups of But once you know a few species butterflies in the high country. commonly found in the Cascades and The life of a butterfly Many species of butterflies are de- Olympics, you’ll be hooked trying to Butterflies have four stages of life: pendent on one or two species of plants identify them. egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most but- for their survival. The red admiral, for I recently spoke with Idie Ulsh, terflies are “on the wing”—in the adult instance, is almost exclusively dependent founding president of the Washington stage—from March to early October. continued on page 27... The four stages in the life of a pale tiger swallowtail (left to right): egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Butterflies generally emerge into the adult stage between March and October. WASHINGTON TRAILS August 2006 mountain butterflies spotting butterflies on the wing in the Cascades and Olympics photos by Idie Ulsh Washington Butterfly Association This 4-page color insert details 28 butterfly species commonly found in the Anicia checkerspot mountains and on the trails of Washington. Some are found east of the Euphydryas anicia Cascade Crest, some from the west, and some statewide. For more infor- According to Butterflies of mation, consult the guidebook The Butterflies of Cascadia by Robert Michael Cascadia, this species is found Pyle or visit the Washington Butterfly Association’s website at www.naba. abundantly on mountain ridges org/chapters/nabaws/. east of the Cascade Crest. Hoffman’s checkerspot Lorquin’s admiral Red admiral Chlosyne hoffmanni Limenitis lorquini Vanessa atalanta An exclusively mountain but- Widespread throughout the This lovely butterfly is found terfly, this species loves high state, it’s named for a gold- in all areas of the state. Its meadows and moist clearings rush era French naturalist from larvae feed almost exclusively along the Cascade Crest. California. Peaks July-Aug. on stinging nettles. Gray hairstreak Great spangled fritillary Western meadow fritillary Strymon melinus Speyeria cybele Boloria epithore Often confused with the tailed Found in prairies and grass- The larvae favor violets; adults blue, it’s found throughout the lands from low to mid-eleva- are found in open clearings state. Breeds in lowlands but tions, the larvae of this species and streamsides in Cascades, will ascend to high country. feast on violets. lowlands and Olympics. WASHINGTON TRAILS August 2006 mountain butterflies swallowtails and commas Large and colorful, swallowtails are some of the flashiest and largest butterflies in the state. Some species, such as the anise, are abundant throughout the state, while the Indra is only found east of the Cascade Crest. Look for swallowtails puddling in wet places, nectaring on a variety of flowers, or “hilltopping” on mountain ridges. Anise swallowtail Papilio zelicaon Commas are a feat of camouflage—brightly colored on the upperside Abundant in all areas of the and bark-like on the underside of the wings. The state’s two species state (except the darkest, deep- are found on both sides of the Cascade Crest. est forests) this species peaks in May and July–August. Indra swallowtail Papilo indra A lovely and sporadic resident Pale tiger swallowtail Two-tailed tiger swallowtail of the eastern slopes of the Papilo eurymedon Papilio multicaudatus Cascades. Look for it in can- Found in open woodlands The largest of the butterflies yons, streambanks and along and places with flowers from found in Washington is com- ridges. Adults are on the wing lowlands to highest summits. mon east of the Cascade Crest, in May. Look for adults May–June. and peaks in June. Western tiger swallowtail Papilio rutulus One of the most common but- Satyr comma Green comma terflies in the state and most Polygonia satyrus Polygonia faunus often mislabled “Monarch.” Camoflauged beneath, and Look in woodlands east and Look for them “puddling” in brightly colored on the upper west of the Cascade Crest for wet places such as stream- wings, satyrs are found state- this camoflauged wonder. banks and meadows. wide. Larvae favor nettles. Adults peak Apr.–May, Aug. WASHINGTON TRAILS August 2006 butterflies and skippers Elfins are diminutive—but speedy—butterflies. The Western pine elfin is completely dependent on pines as a food source, while the brown elfin is a generalist happy with a wide variety of Brown elfin Incisalia augustinus Western pine elfin plants. Incisalia eryphon This tiny species (about an inch across) is found in varied habi- Larvae are completely depen- Two exceptionally beautiful moun- tats east and west of the crest. dent on ponderosa and lodge- tain butterflies are the mountain Most abundant in April. pole pines; small butterlies parnassian and the mourning found east of the crest. cloak. Glassy, translucent wings and bright red dots distinguish the mountain parnassian. Despite its morbid name, the mourning cloak is actually North America’s lon- gest lived butterfly (10 months). Sara’s orangetip is an unmistak- able beauty with its lacey wings and bright orange bands. Skippers are a sub-category of butterflies with delta-like wings and speedy, darting flight. The Mountain parnassian Mourning cloak woodland skipper is an abundant Parnassius smintheus Nymphalis antiopa species, found in almost all areas Residing at higher elevations, Black on the underside and of the state. this beautiful, translucent- brown with blue dots and a winged species is dependent fringe of yellow, they’re com- on sedums (stonecrop). mon in the Cascades. Mylitta crescent Sara’s orangetip Woodland skipper Phyciodes mylitta Anthocharis sara Ochlodes sylvanoides Very common in all areas of Common in all open areas, this Skippers are delta-winged the state, look for mylittas in graceful species has distinctive cousins of butterflies; this is grassy, open areas. Larvae and orange wingtips. Peaks in July the state’s most common spe- adults favor thistles for food. in high country. cies, found in open areas. WASHINGTON TRAILS August 2006 mountain butterflies blues One of the more common butterflies you’ll enounter on the trail are the numerous variety of blues. Species may be difficult to distinguish for the beginning observer, but there are a few stand-outs for the careful butterflier. The arrowhead blue has distinctive white “arrows” pointing toward its abdomen. The Anna’s blue, with its finer spots, is a common resident above 3,000 feet eleva- Anna’s blue tion. And the Western tailed blue has a tiny Upperside (dorsal) wings of Lycaeides anna “tail” that it’s happy to sacrifice to hungry the Boisduval’s blue. The “hiker’s blue” is typically predators. found above 3,000 feet in al- pine meadows of the Cascades and northeast Olympics. Arrowhead blue Boisduval’s blue Dotted blue Glaucopsyche piasus Icaricia icarioides Euphilotes enoptes Resides in deserts, steppe, Completely dependent on Dependent on buckwheat, the and forests east of the crest. lupines. Generally found east dotted blue is found along the Least common of blues, distin- of Cascade Crest and the eastern crest of the Cascades. guished by white “arrows.” northeastern Olympics. On the wing June–July. Lupine blue Melissa’s blue Western tailed blue Icaricia lupini Lycaeides melissa Everes amyntula Completely dependent on lu- Found deserts and steppe, the This species uses antennae- pines, these blues are found Melissa’s is similar to Anna’s, like tails to distract predators. east of the Cascade Crest and in but almost always found below Found in moist habitats, from the northeastern Olympics.