Butterflies found in El Dorado County

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

√ Lilac-bordered Copper
Lycaena nivalis

Pretty beat up!

6000', Silver Fork Road

√ 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.

√ Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon

Feeds on Apiaceae.

2000', Traverse Creek, El Dorado Co.

√ Anise Swallowtail (side)
Papilio zelicaon

Feeds on Apiaceae.

2000', 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.


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