Oregon Caves National Monument Butterfly Guide 🦋

Wingspan: 34–44 mm (1.3–1.7 in)
Host plants: Violet
Overwintering stage: four-stage caterpillar
Mate-Location system: patrolling
Flight: May-August

Conservation: Populations in California's Santa Cruz Mountains are limited and may be in jeopardy
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery less ↑

Wingspan: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm)
Host Plants: Grasses including purple reedgrass (Calamagrostis purpurascens)
Overwintering stage: fully-grown caterpillars
Mate-Location system: perching
Flight: May-July

Conservation: Not usually required
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery less ↑

Wingspan: around 1 in (24-29mm)
Host Plants: wild lilacs (Ceanothus), California buckeye (Aesculus), blackberries (Rubus), and several others
Overwintering stage: Pupae
Mate-Location system: patrolling
Flight: June-October

Conservation: Not usually necessary, but conserve native habitats with their native butterfly species
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery less ↑

Wingspan: 1 3/8 - 1 3/4 inches (3.5 - 4.5 cm)
Plant Hosts: Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), Garry oak (Q. garryana),
Overwintering stage: fully-grown caterpillars
Mate-Location system: perching
Flight: March-July

Conservation: Not usually required
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery less ↑

Wingspan: 1 1/4 - 1 5/8 inches (3.2 - 4.2 cm)
Host Plants: Needlegrass (Stipa spp.), foxtail brome (Bromus rubens), bluegrass (Poa pratensis)
Overwintering stage: caterpillars
Mate-Location system: perching
Flight: May-June; August-September

Conservation: Not usually required
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery less ↑

Wingspan: 1 - 1 1/2 inches (2.5 - 3.8 cm)
Host Plants: Various grasses including blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), fluff grass (Erioneuron pulchellum), and buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides)
Overwintering stage: caterpillars
Mate-Location system: perching
Flight: Two broods from April-October

Conservation: Not usually required
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery less ↑

Wingspan: 7/8 - 1 1/4 inches (2.2 - 3.2 cm)
Host Plants: legumes (Family Fabaceae), milk-vetches (Astragalus spp.), lupines (Lupinus spp.), showy locoweed (Oxytropis lambertii), vetches (Vicia spp.), goldenbeans (Thermopsis spp.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), white sweet clover (Melilotus alba)
Overwintering stage: chrysalis

Mate-Location system: patrolling
Flight: June-August

Conservation: Conserve all remaining habitat for the Palos Verdes Blue. Investigate status and conservation needs of subspecies pseudoxerces
NCGR: T1 - Critically imperiled globally because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences, or very few remaining individuals), or because of some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable to extinction. Subspecies xerces is TX - Presumed extinct. Subspecies pseudoxerces is rank T2. less ↑

Wingspan: 1 1/2 - 2 inches (3.8 - 5.1 cm)
Host Plants: common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), rockcresses (Arabis spp.), marsh yellowcress (Rorippa palustris), common tansy mustard (Descurainia sophia)
Overwintering stage: Chrysalis
Mate-Location system: Patrolling
Flight: May-July

Conservation: The Island Marble (Euchloe ausonides insulanus) is critically imperiled. It was thought to be extinct but has been rediscovered on San Juan Island (Washington). Conservation efforts focus on restoring its ecosystem - the Puget Sound lowland prairie.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Subspocies insulanus is T1 (Critically Imperiled). less ↑

Wingspan: 1 1/8 - 1 3/8 inches (2.9 - 3.5 cm)
Host Plants: shrubby legumes (Family Fabaceae)
Overwintering stage: second-stage caterpillars
Mate-Location system: patrolling
Flight: April-August

Conservation: The Mission Blue, subspecies missionensis, is endangered in California. The largest remaining population is protected in San Bruno Mountain County Park, where monitoring of the butterfly population and control of invasive species continues.
NCGR: Plebeius icarioides missionensis --> T1 - Critically imperiled because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences, or very few remaining individuals), or because of some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable to extinction.
Management Needs: Maintain or improve habitat and ensure adequate host and nectar plants for all rare populations. less ↑

Wingspan: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm)
Host Plants: Clovers (Trifolium spp.)
Overwintering stage: half-grown caterpillars
Mate-Location system: patrolling
Flight: May-July

Conservation: Restore meadow habitat in Big Pine Recreation Area
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery (excluding San Gabriel Blue - TX) less ↑

Wingspan: 1 5/8 - 2 3/4 inches (4.2 - 7 cm)
Host Plants: snapdragon (Antirrhinum), toadflax (Linaria), plantains (Plantago), and ruellia (Ruellia nodiflora).
Overwintering stage: Caterpillars and adults, but only in the south
Mate-Location system: perching, sometimes patrolling
Flight: Two to three broods from May-October

Conservation: Not required
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. less ↑

Wingspan: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm)
Host Plants: canary grass (Phalaris spp.), wild rye (Elymus spp.), wheatgrass (Agropyron spp.)
Overwintering stage: first-stage caterpillars
Mate-Location system: perching
Flight: late July-October

Conservation: Not usually required
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery less ↑

Wingspan: 52 - 80 mm (2.0 to 3.1 in)
Host plants: Cow parsnip (Heracleum sphondylium); Angelica (Angelica arguta)
Overwintering stage: Chrysalis
Mate-Location system: Perching and patrolling
Flight: April-July

Conservation: Not usually of concern
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery less ↑

Wingspan: 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 inches (3 - 3.8 cm)
Host Plants: Native thistles (Cirsium), milk thistle (Silybum marianum), and European thistles (Carduus)
Overwintering stage: partially-grown caterpillars
Mate-Location system: patrolling or perching
Flight: Two broods in the north from April-September, several in the south from February-November

Conservation: Not usually required
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery less ↑

Wingspan: 1 - 1 3/4 inches (2.5 - 4.5 cm)
Host Plants: Asters (Family Asteraceae), Fleabanes (Erigeron spp.)
Overwintering stage: partially-grown caterpillars
Mate-Location system: patrolling
Flight: June-August

Conservation: Not usually required
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery less ↑

Wingspan: 2 - 2 5/8 inches (5.1 - 6.7 cm)
Host Plants: wild cherry (Prunus), willows (Salix), poplar and cottonwood (Populus), and orchard trees
Overwintering stage: partially-grown caterpillars
Mate-Location system: perching
Flight: April-October

Conservation: Not usually required
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery less ↑

Wingspan of 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in)
Host plants : Willows (Salix spp.); cottonwoods and aspens (Populus spp.); black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera); plums and cherries (Prunus spp.); alders (Alnus spp.)
Overwintering stage: Chrysalis
Mate-Location system: Patrolling
Flight: June-July

Conservation: Not usually required
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery less ↑

Wingspan: 1 3/4 - 2 3/8 inches (4.5 - 6 cm)
Host Plants: violets (Family Violaceae), yellow montane violet (V. nuttallii), early blue violet (V. adunca)
Overwintering stage: first-stage caterpillars
Mate-Location system: patrolling
Flight: late June-August

Conservation: Not usually of concern but subspecies tehachapina has a very small range and could be devastated by a single event
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery
Speyeria egleis tehachapina --> T3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). less ↑

Wingspan: 2 - 2 7/8 inches (5.1 - 7.3 cm)
Host Plants: thistles (Cirsium spp.), mallows (Family Malvaceae), peas (Family Fabaceae)
Overwintering stage: adults
Mate-Location system: perching and patrolling
Flight: May-October

Conservation: Not required
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery less ↑

Wingspan: 2 - 2 1/2 inches (5 - 6.4 cm)
Host Plants: Yellow montane violet (Viola nuttallii)
Overwintering stage: first-stage caterpillars
Mate-Location system: perching and patrolling
Flight: May-August

Conservation: Subspecies callippe in California/San Francisco Bay Area is threatened with extinction
NCGR: Speyeria callippe callippe --> T1 - Critically imperiled because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences, or very few remaining individuals), or because of some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable to extinction less ↑

aka European Skipper

Color: Wings are brassy burnt orange; upperside of both wings with black borders and black on the outer portions of the veins. The male forewing has a narrow black stigma. A pale form (pallida) is very rare.
Wingspan: 1 - 1 1/8 inches (2.5 - 2.9 cm)
Host plants: Timothy (Phleum pratense) and other grasses.
Adult food: Nectar from low-growing flowers including orange hawkweed, thistles, ox-eye daisy, fleabane, white clover, red clover, selfheal, Deptford pink, common milkweed, and swamp milkweed.
Overwintering stage: eggs
Mate-Location system: patrolling
Flight: mid-May to mid-July

https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Thymelicus-lineola less ↑

Wingspan: 1 3/4 - 3 inches (4.5 - 7.6 cm)
Host plants: Purpletop (Tridens flavus) and other grasses
Overwintering stage: Caterpillars hatch but do not feed, instead hibernating until spring.
Mate-Location system: patrolling
Flight: One brood from late May-October. Females emerge later than males

Source: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Cercyonis-pegala less ↑