Insects of Pepperwood Preserve

This is a guide to all the insects that have been observed and identified to species by citizen-scientists at Pepperwood Preserve

Anise Swallowtail

The Anise Swallowtail, Papilio zelicaon, is a common swallowtail butterfly of western North America. Both the upper and lower sides of its wings are black, but the upper wing has a broad yellow stripe across it, which gives the butterfly an overall yellow appearance. There are striking blue spots on the rear edge of the rear wing, and the characteristic tails of the ...more ↓

Pale Swallowtail

Papilio eurymedon, the pale swallowtail or pallid swallowtail is a relatively common swallowtail butterfly found throughout much of the western United States. It is found on the Pacific coast from northern Baja California to southernmost British Columbia and inland to New Mexico and the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is present from the coast to western Montana ...more ↓

Acmon Blue

The Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon) is a North American butterfly. It ranges mainly in California but can be seen north to Oregon and south through Baja California. The tops of the wings are blue with dark edges in males and brown in females. Its underside is white with black spots for both sexes with a red-orange band on the hindwing. Adults feed on nectar while caterpillars can ...more ↓

Mourning Cloak

Nymphalis antiopa, known as the Mourning Cloak in North America and the Camberwell Beauty in Britain, is a large butterfly native to Eurasia and North America. See also Anglewing butterflies. The immature form of this species is sometimes known as the spiny elm caterpillar. Other older names for this species include Grand Surprise and White ...more ↓

striped hairstreak

The Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in North America, from the Rocky Mountains south from southern Canada to Colorado, east to Maine and south to Florida.

Common Wood Nymph

The Common wood-nymph (Cercyonis pegala), also called wood mymph or grayling, is a North American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Satyrinae.

California Sister

The California Sister (Adelpha californica), sometimes placed in the genus Limenitis), is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. The butterfly is named for its black and white markings on the forewing that resemble a nun's habit. It is commonly found on oak trees (on which it lays its eggs) and by water sources where it sips salts from the mud.

Common Buckeye

The (Common) Buckeye (Junonia coenia) is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in southern Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia and all parts of the United States except the northwest, and is especially common in the south, the California coast, and throughout Central America and Colombia. Its habitat is open areas with low vegetation and some bare ...more ↓

Variable Checkerspot

The Variable Checkerspot or Chalcedon Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) is a species of butterfly, common in western North America from Alaska to Baja California and from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. A highly variable species, the wing upper surface is black to dark brown. The forewing is narrow and pointed compared to similar species. The wingspan ...more ↓

California Dogface

The California dogface butterfly (Zerene eurydice, sometimes placed in the related genus Colias) has been the state insect of the U.S. state of California since 1972. Its range is limited to that state. California was the first state to choose a state insect — and thus, to choose a butterfly — though most of the other states have now followed, and many even ...more ↓

Edited by Scott Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)