US Species
Butterflies & Moths Photographed in the US
All butterfly and moth species I've photographed in California, primarily on the San Francisco Peninsula and surrounding Bay Area. Better photos are marked in the original list; taxonomy generally follows NABA except where Opler & Warren disagree.
Species List
Species shown in green have photos — click to view.
Swallowtails
- (Parnassius clodius (ssp. claudianus and baldur))
- (Papilio zelicaon)
- (Papilio rutulus)
- (Papilio eurymedon)
- (Battus philenor)
Whites and Sulphurs
- (Neophasia menapia)
- (Pontia protodice)
- (Pontia occidentalis)
- (Pieris [napi] marginalis)
- (Pieris rapae)
- (Euchloe ausonides ausonides)
- (Euchloe ausonides transmontana)
- (Euchloe hyantis hyantis)
- (Anthocharis sara)
- (Colias eurytheme)
Coppers
- (Lycaena hypophleas, ssp. shields)
- (Tharsalea arota)
- (Lycaena cupreus)
- (Tharsalea xanthoides)
- (Lycaena editha)
- (Tharsalea gorgon)
- (Tharsalea rubidus)
- (Lycaena heteronea)
- (Lycaena helloides)
- (Lycaena nivalis)
Hairstreaks and Elfins
- (Habrodais grunus)
- (Satyrium fuliginosum)
- (Satyrium behrii)
- (Satyrium californica)
- (Satyrium sylvinus)
- (Satyrium tetra)
- (Satyrium saepium)
- (Callophrys augustinus)
- (Callophrys mossii)
- (Callophrys eryphon)
- (Callophrys spinetorum)
- (Callophrys [gryneus] nelsoni)
- (Callophrys [gryneus] muiri)
- (Callophrys dumetorum (syn. viridis))
- (Callophrys perplexa)
- (Callophrys sheridanii lemberti)
- (Strymon melinus)
Blues
- (Brephidium exile)
- (Leptotes marina)
- (Cupido amyntula)
- (Cupido comyntas)
- (Celastrina [ladon] echo)
- (Philotes sonorensis)
- (Glaucopsyche piasus)
- (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
- (Plebejus anna)
- (Icaricia icarioides icarioides)
- (Icaricia icarioides missionensis)
- (Icaricia icarioides pardalis)
- (Icaricia icarioides parapheres)
- (Icaricia icarioides falla)
- (Plebejus saepiolus)
- (Icaricia shasta)
- (Plebejus melissa)
- (Icaricia acmon)
- (Icaricia acmon/lupini)
- (Icaricia lupini)
- (Euphilotes sp.)
- (Euphilotes [battoides] bernardino)
- (Euphilotes battoides battoides)
- (Euphilotes [battoides] intermedia oregonensis)
- (Euphilotes enoptes enoptes)
- (Euphilotes enoptes smithi)
- (Euphilotes enoptes bayensis)
- (Euphilotes enoptes tildeni)
- (Agriades glandon)
Metalmarks
- (Apodemia mormo)
Fritillaries
- (Argynnis coronis coronis)
- (Argynnis coronis simaetha)
- (Argynnis zerene zerene)
- (Argynnis zerene malcolmi)
- (Argynnis zerene myrtleaea)
- (Argynnis zerene monticola)
- (Argynnis callippe callippe)
- (Argynnis callippe comstocki)
- (Argynnis callippe laurina)
- (Argynnis callippe nevadensis)
- (Argynnis callippe rupestris)
- (Argynnis egleis egleis)
- (Argynnis egleis oweni)
- (Argynnis adiaste adiaste)
- (Argynnis adiaste clemencei)
- (Argynnis hydaspe)
- (Argynnis hydaspe viridicornis)
- (Argynnis mormonia)
- (Boloria epithore epithore, sierra, and chermocki)
Checkerspots and Crescents
- (Chlosyne leanira)
- (Chlosyne palla palla)
- (Chlosyne palla altasierra)
- (Chlosyne palla australomontana)
- (Chlosyne gabbii)
- (Chlosyne whitneyi)
- (Chlosyne acastus)
- (Chlosyne hoffmanni)
- (Phyciodes tharos)
- (Phyciodes pulchella (syn. campestris))
- (Phyciodes orseis herlani (possible))
- (Phyciodes mylitta)
- (Euphydryas chalcedona chalcedona)
- (Euphydryas chalcedona sierra)
- (Euphydryas chalcedona variicolor)
- (Euphydryas editha editha)
- (Euphydryas editha nubigena)
- (Euphydryas editha rubicunda)
Anglewings, Tortoiseshells, and Ladies
- (Polygonia satyrus)
- (Polygonia gracilis zephyrus)
- (Polygonia oreas)
- (Nymphalis californica)
- (Nymphalis antiopa)
- (Vanessa atalanta)
- (Vanessa cardui)
- (Vanessa virginiensis)
- (Vanessa annabella)
- (Junonia coenia)
- (Limenitis lorquini)
- (Adelpha californica)
Satyrs and Monarchs
- (Coenonympha [tullia] california)
- (Cercyonis pegala)
- (Cercyonis sthenele)
- (Cercyonis oetus)
- (Neominois ridingsii)
- (Oeneis chryxus)
- (Danaus gilippus)
Skippers
- (Epargyreus clarus)
- (Thorybes pylades)
- (Thorybes diversus)
- (Cecropterus mexicana)
- (Erynnis propertius)
- (Erynnis tristis)
- (Gesta pacuvius lilius)
- (Gesta pacuvius pernigra)
- (Pholisora catullus)
- (Pyrgus ruralis)
- (Burnsius communis)
- (Heliopetes ericetorum)
- (Hylephila phyleus)
- (Hesperia juba)
- (Hesperia [comma] colorado, ssp. dodgei and "yosemite")
- (Hesperia lindseyi)
- (Hesperia columbia)
- (Polites sabuleti sabuleti)
- (Polites sabuleti tecumseh)
- (Polites sonora)
- (Atalopedes campestris)
- (Ochlodes sylvanoides)
- (Ochlodes agricola)
- (Ochlodes yuma)
- (Poanes melane)
- (Lerodea eufala)
- (Megathymus yuccae)
Moths
- Alypia mariposa (Alypia mariposa)
- Heliothodes diminutiva (Heliothodes diminutiva)
- Mesoleuca gratulata (Mesoleuca gratulata)
- Hemaris diffinis (Hemaris diffinis)
- Chlorosea banksaria (Chlorosea banksaria)
- Grammia ornata (Grammia ornata)
- Synedoida ochracea (Synedoida ochracea)
- Synedoida divergens (Synedoida divergens)
- Gnophaela latipennis (Gnophaela latipennis)
- Adela septentrionella (Adela septentrionella)