Butterflies of Orange County, California

Yellow background, exotic species.

(Click on images or names to open)

Photographed and compiled by Peter J. Bryant (pjbryant@uci.edu) Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California 92697

Swallowtails (Papilionidae)

Pipevine Swallowtail,
Battus philenor

Pale Swallowtail,
Papilio
eurymedon


Western Giant Swallowtail,
Papilio rumiko


Western Tiger Swallowtail,
Papilio
rutulus


Anise Swallowtail,
Papilio zelicaon

Sulphurs and Whites (Pieridae)

Sara Orangetip,
Anthocharis sara
(male)

Sara Orangetip,
Anthocharis sara
(female)

Harford's Sulphur,
Colias alexandra harfordii

California Dogface,
Zerene eurydice
(male)
California Dogface,
Zerene eurydice
(female)
Orange Sulphur (Alfalfa butterfly),
Colias eurytheme
(male)

Orange Sulphur (Alfalfa butterfly),
Colias eurytheme (female)


Sleepy Orange,
Eurema nicippe


Dainty Sulfur,
Nathalis iole

Large Orange Sulphur,
Phoebis agarithe

Cloudless Sulphur,
Phoebis sennae

Cabbage White,
Pieris rapae


Checkered White,
Pontia protodice
(female)


Checkered White,
Pontia protodice
(male)

 
Milkweed Butterflies (Danaidae) Satyrs and Wood Nymphs (Satyridae)


Striated Queen,
Danaus gilippus


Monarch,
Danaus plexippus
(male)

Monarch,
Danaus plexippus
(female)


Great Basin Wood Nymph,
Cercyonis sthenele


California Ringlet,
Coenonympha tullia california

Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)

Gulf Fritillary,
Agraulis vanillae

Viceroy,
Limenitis archippus

California Sister,
Adelpha californica

Gabb's Checkerspot,
Chlosyne gabbii

Leonira Checkerspot,
Chlosyne leonira

Variable Checkerspot,
Euphydryas chalcedona

Lorquin's Admiral,
Limenitis lorquini

Mourning Cloak,
Nymphalis antiopa

California Tortoiseshell,
Nymphalis californica


Mylitta Crescent,
Phyciodes mylitta


Satyr Comma,
Polygonia satyrus

Common Buckeye, Junonia coenia
(= Precis coenia)

Callipe Fritillary,
Speyeria callipe comstocki

Coronis Fritillary,
Speyeria coronis semiramis

West Coast Lady,
Vanessa anabella

Red Admiral,
Vanessa atalanta
       
Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae, cont.) Metalmarks (Riodinidae)

Painted Lady,
Vanessa cardui 

American Lady,
Vanessa virginiensis


Behr's Metalmark,
Apodemia virgulti


Fatal Metalmark,
Calephelis nemesis


Wright's Metalmark,
Calephelis wrighti
Blues, Coppers and Hairstreaks (Lycaenidae)

Great Purple Hairstreak,
Atlides
halesus


Pygmy Blue,
Brephidium
exilis


Brown Elfin,
Callophrys augustinus
Lotus Hairstreak,
Callophrys perplexa

Echo Blue,
Celastrina argiolus
Western Tailed-Blue,
Cupido amyntula

Reakirt's Blue,
Echinargus isola

Bernardino Blue,
Euphilotes bernardino

Silvery Blue,
Glaucopsyche lygdamus


Golden Hairstreak,
Habrodais
grunus


Ceraunus Blue,
Hemiargus ceraunus

Marine Blue,
Leptotes marina

Tailed Copper,
Lycaena arota

Gorgon Copper,
Lycaena gorgon
 

Purplish Copper,
Lycaena helloides
(male)

Purplish Copper,
Lycaena helloides
(female)

Great Copper,
Lycaena xanthoides

Sonoran Blue,
Philotes sonorensis

Acmon Blue,
Plebejus acmon

Boisduval's Blue,
Plebejus icarioides

Melissa Blue Butterfly,
Plebejus melissa inyoensis

Gold-hunters Hairstreak,
Satyrium auretorum spadix

California Hairstreak,
Satyrium californica

Hedgerow Hairstreak,
Satyrium saepium

Sylvan Hairstreak,
Satyrium
sylvinus

Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak,
Satyrium tetra

Avalon Scrub Hairstreak,
Strymon avalona
Gray Hairstreak,
Strymon melinus
 
Skippers (Hesperiidae)

White-spot skipper butterfly, Epargyreus clarus


Funereal Duskywing,
Erynnis funeralis


Propertius Duskywing,
Erynnis propertius

Mournful duskywing,
Erynnis tristis


Dun Skipper,
Euphyes vestris


Northern White Skipper,
Heliopetes
ericetorum

Common Branded Skipper,
Hesperia comma

Juba Skipper,
Hesperia juba

Fiery Skipper,
Hylephila phyleus

Eufala Skipper,
Lerodea eufala

Rural Skipper,
Ochlodes agricola

Woodland Skipper,
Ochlodes sylvanoides

Wandering Skipper,
Panoquina errans

Umber Skipper,
Poanes melane

Sandhill Skipper,
Polites sabuleti

Hammock Skipper,
Polygonus leo

White Checkered Skipper,
Pyrgus albescens
   

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See also Butterflies and their Foodplants