Here are pictures of California butterflies found on trips to Iron Mountain Road, Carson Pass, and Wrights Lake, plus a few from the Yosemite area. I will continue to search and add more.
Five groups: Skippers | Brushfoots | Gossamer Wings | True Butterflies | White or Yellow
Click the thumbnail to see a larger image; √=identification verified by Arthur Shapiro:
Hesperidae (Skippers)
√ Woodland Skipper
Ochlodes sylvanoides
√ Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus
√ Common Checkered Skipper (m)
Pyrgus communis
√ Common Checkered Skipper (f)
Pyrgus communis
√ Mournful Dusky-Wing
Erynnis tristis
Mournful Dusky-Wing
Erynnis tristis
√ Propertius Dusky-Wing
Erynnis propertius
[back to top]
Nymphalidae (Brushfoots)
√ Edith's Checkerspot
Euphydryas editha
Variable Checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona
√ Mylitta Crescent
Phyciodes mylitta
√ Northern Checkerspot
Chlosyne palla
√ Great Basin Fritillary
Speyeria egleis
√ Great Basin Fritillary (side)
Speyeria egleis
√ Zerene Fritillary
Speyeria zerene
√ Atlantis Fritillary
Speyeria atlantis
Hydaspe Fritillary
Speyeria hydaspe
Hydaspe Fritillary (side)
Speyeria hydaspe
Mormon Fritillary
Speyeria mormonia
Common Ringlet
Coenonympha tullia
California Tortoiseshell
Nymphalis californica
California Tortoiseshell
Nymphalis californica
√ Lorquin's Admiral
Limenitis lorquini
√ Lorquin's Admiral (side)
Limenitis lorquini
√ Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
California Sister
Adelpha bredowii californica
√ American Lady
Vanessa virginiensis
√ Field Crescent
Phyciodes campestris montana
California Buckeye
Junonia coenia
[back to top]
Lycaenidae (Gossamer Wings)
√ Anna's Northern Blue (m)
Lycaeides idas anna
√ Anna's Northern Blue (m)
Lycaeides idas anna
√ Anna's Northern Blue (f)
Lycaeides idas anna
√ Boisduval's Blue (m)
Plebejus icarioides
√ Boisduval's Blue (f)
Plebejus icarioides
Dotted Blue (f)
Euphilotes enoptes
Dotted Blue (f)
Euphilotes enoptes
√ Acmon Blue (m)
Plebejus acmon
Acmon Blue (f)
Plebejus acmon
photo by Ken Meadows
Silvery Blue
Glaucopsyche lygdamus
√ Greenish Blue
Plebejus saepiolus
√ Lupine Blue (f)
Plebejus lupini
Lupine Blue
Plebejus lupini
Lilac-bordered Copper
Lycaena nivalis
Lilac-bordered Copper
Lycaena nivalis
√ Ruddy Copper (f)
Lycaena rubidus
√ Edith's Coppers
Lycaena editha
√ Tailed Copper
Lycaena arota arota
√ Purplish Copper
Lycaena helloides
Lustrous Coppers (M, top, F lower)
...doing the Hoochee-Coochee!
Lycaena cupreus
√ Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
√ Nelson's Hairstreak
Mitoura gryneus nelsoni
Papilionidae (True Butterflies)
√ Clodius Parnassian
Parnassius clodius
√ Clodius Parnassian
Parnassius clodius
Pipevine Swallowtail (f)
Battus philenor
...dependent on California pipevine.
Pipevine Swallowtail (f)
Battus philenor
Females have white spots on the lower edge of the forewing.
√ Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
√ Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon
√ Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus
1500', Diamond Springs
Pale Swallowtail
Papilio eurymedon
1500', Diamond Springs
[back to top]
Pieridae (White or Yellow Butterflies)
√ Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme
Orange Sulphur in flight
Colias eurytheme
√ Pine White
Neophasia menapia
caught by a crab spider.
√ Pine White
Neophasia menapia
Cabbage White (f)
Pieris rapae
Western White
Pontia occidentalis
Checkered White (f)
Pontia protodice
Sara Orange-tip
Anthocharis sara sara
[back to top]