Butterflies of Orange County, California
(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, CA 92697

See also Butterflies and their Foodplants

Swallowtails (Papilionidae)

Giant Swallowtail,
Papilio cresphontes


Pale Swallowtail,
Papilio
eurymedon


Pipevine Swallowtail,
Papilio philenor


Western Tiger Swallowtail,
Papilio
rutulus


Anise Swallowtail,
Papilio zelicaon
Sulphurs and Whites (Pieridae)
Sara Orangetip,
Anthocharis sara

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


Sleepy Orange,
Eurema nicippe


Cloudless Sulphur,
Phoebis sennae


Harford's Sulphur,
Colias alexandra harfordii

Dainty Sulfur,
Nathalis iole
 


Checkered White,
Pontia protodice
(female)


Checkered White,
Pontia protodice
(male)


Cabbage White,
Pieris rapae
   
Milkweed Butterflies (Danaidae)

Striated Queen,
Danaus gilippus


Monarch,
Danaus plexippus
(male)

Monarch,
Danaus plexippus
(female)
   
Satyrs and Wood Nymphs (Satyridae)

Sylvan Wood Nymph,
Cercyonis sthenele silvestris


California Ringlet,
Coenonymphacalifornia
     

Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)


Viceroy,
Limenitis archippus

California Sister,
Adelpha bredowii

Gabb's Checkerspot,
Chlosyne gabbii

Variable Checkerspot,
Euphydryas chalcedona

Edith's (Quino) Checkerspot, Euphydryas editha quino

Lorquin's Admiral,
Limenitis lorquini

Mourning Cloak,
Nymphalis antiopa

California Tortoiseshell,
Nymphalis californica


Mylitta Crescent,
Phyciodes mylitta


Satyr Comma,
Polygonia
satyrus

Common Buckeye,
Precis coenia

Callipe Fritillary,
Speyeria
callipe comstocki

West Coast Lady,
Vanessa anabella

Red Admiral,
Vanessa atalanta


Painted Lady,
Vanessa cardui 


American Lady,
Vanessa virginiensis
       
Long-wing Butterflies (Heliconiidae) Metalmarks (Riodinidae)

Gulf Fritillary,
Agraulis vanillae

 


Mormon Metalmark,
Apodemia mormo


Fatal Metalmark,
Calephelis nemesis


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

Great Purple Hairstreak,
Atlides
halesus


Pygmy Blue,
Brephidium
exilis

Bramble Hairstreak,
Callophrys dumetorum
Echo Blue,
Celastrina argiolus
Western Tailed-Blue,
Cupido amyntula

Silvery Blue,
Glaucopsyche lygdamus


Golden Hairstreak,
Habrodais
grunus


Hedgerow Hairstreak,
Satyrium saepium


Reakirt's Blue,
Echinargus isola


Brown Elfin,
Callophrys augustinus

Marine Blue,
Leptotes marina

Tailed Copper,
Lycaena arota

Gorgon Copper,
Lycaena gorgon

Purplish Copper,
Lycaena helloides
(male)

Purplish Copper,
Lycaena helloides
(female)

Square-spotted Blue,
Euphilotes battoides

Sonoran Blue,
Philotes sonorensis

Acmon Blue,
Plebejus acmon

Boisduval's Blue,
Plebejus icarioides

Sylvan Hairstreak,
Satyrium
sylvinus
Gray Hairstreak,
Strymon melinus

Avalon Scrub Hairstreak,
Strymon avalona
     
Skippers (Hesperiidae)

Funereal Duskywing,
Erynnis funeralis


Propertius Duskywing,
Erynnis propertius

Mournful duskywing,
Erynnis tristis


Northern White Skipper,
Heliopetes
ericetorum


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


Common Checkered Skipper,
Pyrgus communis