“Butterflies are self-propelled flowers.”   – John Keats

Not being a lepidopterist, I have done my best to ascertain the correct titles for these splendid creatures which I have photographed on hikes and travels.  Names in parentheses are best-guesses.  Qualified assistance would be appreciated.

Most images are available for download in 1024×768 JPEG format; a few older ones have a lesser resolution.  Place names are in California unless otherwise specified.

– click on any image for a high-resolution graphic –

• Butterflies •

BLUE

Common Blue
Mokelumne Wilderness
Winnemucca Lake
Shasta Blue
Yosemite National Park
Middle Gaylor Lake
(same)

Common Blue
Yosemite National Park
Wapama Falls Trail

BUCKEYE

Common Buckeye
Monticello, Virginia
Thomas Jefferson's Home
(same)

CALIFORNIA SISTER

California Sister
Auburn State Recreation Area
Wendell Robie Trail
(same)

CHECKERSPOT

Hoffman's Checkerspot
Desolation Wilderness
Gertrude Lake Trail
Edith's Checkerspot
Desolation Wilderness
Gertrude Lake Trail
(Variable) Checkerspot
Auburn State Recreation Area
Codfish Falls Trail

Edith's Checkerspot
Desolation Wilderness
Smith Lake Trail
Northern) Checkerspot
Auburn State Recreation Area
Pennyweight Trail
Northern Checkerspot
Glacier National Park, Montana
Twin Lakes Trail

Chalcedon Checkerspot
Feather River Canyon
Chambers Creek Falls Trail
(same)

COMMA

Hoary Comma
Point Reyes National Seashore
Alamere Falls Trail

COPPER

Lustrous Copper
Yosemite National Park
Middle Gaylor Lake

FRITILLARY

(Zerene) Fritillary
Yosemite National Park
Middle Gaylor Lake
(same individual)
(Zerene) Fritillary
Mokelumne Wilderness
Woods Lake area

Mormon Fritillary
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Jenny Lake area
Zerene Fritillary
Yosemite National Park
Sunrise Lakes trail

HAIRSTREAK

Sloe Hairstreak
Eldorado National Forest
Government Meadow Trail
False Ilex Hairstreak
Inyo National Forest
Mono Craters

KITE

Paper Kite, Rice Paper
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Butterfly Conservatory

LADY

Painted Lady
Auburn State Recreation Area
Codfish Falls Trail
Painted Lady
Mount Hood National Forest
Umbrella Falls Trail

LONGWING

Zebra Longwing
Botanical Garden & Butterfly House
Grand Junction, Colorado

MOURNING CLOAK

Mourning Cloak
-aka- Camberwell Beauty
Desolation Wilderness
Meeks Creek Trail
Mourning Cloak
Desolation Wilderness
Snow Lake Route

PARNASSIAN

Clodius Parnassian (male)
Tahoe National Forest
Loch Leven Lakes
Sierra Nevada Parnassian
Desolation Wilderness
Ropi Lake
Sierra Nevada Parnassian
Yosemite National Park
Budd Lake

RINGLET

California Ringlet
Vaca Mountains
Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve

SULFUR

Palaeno Sulfur
Taylor Highway, Yukon Territory
near Chicken, Alaska

SWALLOWTAIL

Anise Swallowtail
Tahoe National Forest
Mount Lola summit
Anise Swallowtail
Cache Creek Natural Area
Redbud Trail
Anise Swallowtail
Sacramento
William Pond Recreation Area

Western Tiger Swallowtail
Sacramento
My yard
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Sequoia National Park
Log Meadow Trail
(same individual)

Pipevine Swallowtail
Auburn State Recreation Area
Lake Clementine Trail
Pipevine Swallowtail
Auburn State Recreation Area
Codfish Falls Trail
Mormon Swallowtail
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Butterfly Conservatory

Pale Swallowtail
Stanislaus National Forest
Carlon Falls Trailhead
(same individual)

TIGER

Plain Tiger, African Monarch
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Butterfly Conservatory

TORTOISE SHELL

California Tortoise Shell
Yosemite National Park
Taft Point Trail
California Tortoise Shell
Crystal Basin Recreation Area
Red Peak Trail
California Tortoise Shell
Hoover Wilderness
Barney Lake Trail

WHITE

Cabbage White
Washoe Valley, Nevada
Washoe Lake State Park
Pine White
Inyo National Forest
Mono Craters
Checkered White
Yosemite National Park
Tuolumne Meadows

Green-veined White
Glacier National Park, Montana
Twin Falls Trail

• Skippers •

MISCELLANEOUS

Fiery Skipper
Monticello, Virginia
Thomas Jefferson's home

• Moths •

SPHINX

White-lined Sphinx
Lake Tahoe Basin
Glen Alpine Springs
(same individual)

MISCELLANEOUS

Orange Swift
Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Gem Lake Trail
Sub-angled Wave
Mokelumne Wilderness
Woods Lake area