All Species
Butterflies & Moths Photographed in California
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)
- (Euchloe hyantis hyantis)
- (Anthocharis sara)
- (Colias eurytheme)
Coppers
- (Lycaena phleas, ssp. hypophleas)
- (Lycaena arota)
- (Lycaena cupreus)
- (Lycaena xanthoides)
- (Lycaena editha)
- (Lycaena gorgon)
- (Lycaena 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)
- (Everes amyntula)
- (Everes comyntas)
- (Celastrina [ladon] echo)
- (Philotes sonorensis)
- (Glaucopsyche piasus)
- (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
- (Lycaeides [idas] anna)
- (Plebejus icarioides icarioides)
- (Plebejus icarioides missionensis)
- (Plebejus icarioides pardalis)
- (Plebejus icarioides parapheres)
- (Plebejus icarioides falla)
- (Plebejus saepiolus)
- (Plebejus shasta)
- (Plebejus melissa)
- (Plebejus acmon)
- (Plebejus acmon/lupini)
- (Plebejus 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
- (Speyeria coronis coronis)
- (Speyeria coronis simaetha)
- (Speyeria zerene zerene)
- (Speyeria zerene malcolmi)
- (Speyeria zerene myrtleaea)
- (Speyeria callippe callippe)
- (Speyeria callippe comstocki)
- (Speyeria callippe laurina)
- (Speyeria callippe nevadensis)
- (Speyeria egleis egleis)
- (Speyeria egleis oweni)
- (Speyeria adiaste adiaste)
- (Speyeria adiaste clemencei)
- (Speyeria hydaspe)
- (Speyeria mormonia)
- (Boloria epithore epithore, sierra, and chermocki)
Checkerspots and Crescents
- (Thessalia leanira)
- (Chlosyne palla palla)
- (Chlosyne palla altasierra)
- (Chlosyne palla australomontana)
- (Chlosyne gabbii)
- (Chlosyne whitneyi)
- (Chlosyne acastus)
- (Chlosyne hoffmanni)
- (Phyciodes tharos)
- (Phyciodes pulchellus (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 bredowii)
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)
- (Thorybes mexicana)
- (Erynnis propertius)
- (Erynnis tristis)
- (Erynnis pacuvius lilius)
- (Erynnis pacuvius pernigra)
- (Pyrgus ruralis)
- (Pyrgus 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)