Butterflies and Moths

[RRSmith]

I thought I would start a thread to rep the Order Lepidoptera. I'm a bit of a butterfly nerd and while I personally don't have a ton of images, I am hoping I can coerce some of you to post yours here.

First up are some images of the Oregon silverspot butterfly. This species occurs in native coastal dune habitat where early blue violet (its larval host plant) occurs. It's ESA listed as Threatened due to it's declining, fragmented habitat and has been reduced to five populations (four in Oregon and one in California).

 

[SculpinSwinger]

I know almost nothing. West side cascades, about 5000’ elevation, June.

 

[RRSmith]

I know almost nothing. West side cascades, about 5000’ elevation, June.

I love this image! I believe that’s an Edith’s checkerspot butterfly.

 

[Kilchis]

This might be a Lorquin's Admiral. Then again…

 

[Greg Armstrong]

From New England, no idea what species but I thought it was darned pretty!

 

[RCF]

Need to repost some pics from trip reports. So many great ones and definitely will add to this thread.

Note: I love butterflies and months. When I was younger I had over 300 of them in my collection. Gave them all to my High School Biology teacher so others could see and learn...

 

[RRSmith]

From New England, no idea what species but I thought it was darned pretty!

That's a red admiral and great shot!

 

[RRSmith]

Here's a cell phone image of a two tailed swallowtail on the office hummingbird feeder that we had at Shasta Valley Wildlife Area, CA (near CA/OR border).

 

[Mike Cline]

Spotted Oleander Wasp Moth (Empyreuma affinis) - Native to the West Indies, but now found in Central to Southern Florida. These images from the Tampa Bay region this Spring.

 

[tkww]

Here's a Lorquin's Admiral that spent Maybe 20 minutes working over some crayfish remains


A moth on the side of the house a couple weeks ago. No idea what kind it is. Love how the scales look almost like pixels.

 

[Greg Armstrong]

Puddling.

 

[Jim F.]

Love the last photo. The only butterflies I see around my place are the erratic-flying, fluttering white ones. I've always wondered, if they have a specific destination how do they even get there?

 

[RRSmith]

Here's a cell phone image of some more puddling - this time it's a swallowtail convention including pale tiger, western tiger and anise swallowtails.

 

[MELinOre]

Had this beauty land on my oar to get some warm up time at Crane Prairie Reservoir.

 

[Kilchis]

 

[SculpinSwinger]

Near Lutselk’e, Northwest Territories, very windy day

 

[Cabezon]

I encountered these Mormon fritillary butterflies feeding on nectar and pollen from Cascade asters in the meadows near Paradise on Mt. Rainier.

Steve

 

[Cabezon]

Mixed with the Mormon fritillary butterflies were silvery blue butterflies. Most were these strikingly blue males.

But there were also a few duller females in the mix

Steve

 

[Kilchis]

 

[Kilchis]