Here are pictures of butterflies found on trips to Iron Mountain Road, Carson Pass, and Wrights Lake, a few from the Yosemite area. I will continue to visit other areas and add more.
Click the thumbnail to see a larger image; √=identification verified by Arthur Shapiro:
Hesperidae (Skippers)
√ Woodland Skipper
Ochlodes sylvanoides
1700', Diamond Springs
√ Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus
1700', Diamond Springs
√ Common
Checkered Skipper:
Pyrgus communis
7000', Iron Mountain Road.
√ Propertius Dusky-Wing
Erynnis propertius
Feeds on Fagaceae,
Chinquapin at higher elevations.
8000', above Wrights Lake, El Dorado Co.
√ Mournful Dusky-Wing
Erynnis tristis
El Dorado Co.
Two-banded Skipper
Pyrgus ruralis
Nymphalidae (Brushfoots)
√ Edith's Checkerspot
Euphydryas editha
7000', Iron Mountain Road
√ Northern Checkerspot
Chlosyne palla
El Dorado Co.
Common Ringlet
Coenonympha tullia
Gates Canyon, Solano Co.
√ Great Basin Fritillary
Speyeria egleis
8500', Carson Pass, Alpine Co.
√ Great Basin Fritillary (side)
Speyeria egleis
8500', Carson Pass, Alpine Co.
√ Zerene Fritillary
Speyeria zerene
7,000', Iron Mountain Road
√ Atlantis Fritillary
Speyeria atlantis
7,000', Iron Mountain Road
√ Mylitta Crescent
Phyciodes mylitta
5600', Crystal Basin, El Dorado Co.
√ Field Crescent
Phyciodes campestris montana
7000', Iron Mountain Road, El Dorado Co..
√ Lorquin's Admiral
Limenitis lorquini
5600', Crystal Basin, El Dorado Co.
√ Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
2000', Traverse Creek
√ American Lady
Vanessa virginiensis
5,500', Van Vleck
Buckeye
Junonia coenia
5,500', Van Vleck
Lycaenidae (Gossamer Wings)
√ Greenish Blue
Plebejus saepiolus
8500, Carson Pass, Alpine Co.
√ Anna's Northern Blue (f)
Lycaeides idas anna
8000', above Wrights Lake, El Dorado Co.
√ Lupine Blue (f)
Plebejus lupini
8000', above Wrights Lake, El Dorado Co.
√ Anna's Northern Blue (m)
Lycaeides idas anna
7000', Iron Mountain Road.
√ Edith's Copper (f)
Lycaena editha
5000', Van Vleck
√ Edith's Copper (f) side
Lycaena editha
5000', Van Vleck
√ Ruddy Copper (f)
Lycaena rubidus
10,000', Saddlebag Lake
√ Edith's Coppers
Lycaena editha
10,000', Saddlebag Lake
Acmon Blue (f)
Plebejus acmon
photo by Ken
√ Acmon Blue side
Plebejus acmon
5,500', Van Vleck
√ Tailed Copper
Lycaena arota arota
5,500', Van Vleck
√ Purplish Copper
Lycaena helloides
5,500', Van Vleck
Silvery Blue
Glaucopsyche lygdamus
5,500', Van Vleck
Silvery Blue side
Glaucopsyche lygdamus
√ Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
Folsom, Sacramento Co.
Papilionidae (True Butterflies)
Pipevine Swallowtail (f)
Battus philenor
...dependent on California pipevine.
Folsom, Sacramento Co.
Pipevine Swallowtail (f)
Battus philenor
Females have white spots on the lower edge of the forewing.
Traverse Creek, El Dorado Co.
√ Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus
1500', Diamond Springs
Pieridae (White, Yellow, or Orange Butterflies)
√ Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme
5000', Van Vleck
√ Orange Sulphur in flight
Colias eurytheme
5000', Van Vleck
√ Clodius Parnassian
Parnassius clodius
8500', Carson Pass
√ Pine White
Neophasia menapia
caught by a crab spider.
8500', Carson Pass
Sara Orange-tip
Anthocharis sara sara
2000', Quarry Trail, El Dorado Co.
[back to top]


