GREAT PURPLE HAIRSTREAK (Atlides halesus)
Wingspan .7 - .9"
Uncommon but have been seen in Frijoles Canyon. Mid to late summer.
Photo by Sally King
AMERICAN SNOUT(Libytheana carinenta)
Wingspan 1.2 - 1.4"
Rare. Has been seen in Frijoles Canyon. Unique for its long facial snout.
Photo by Sally King
ANISE SWALLOWTAIL (Papilio zelicaon)
Wingspan 3.5 - 4"
Less common than other swallowtails but relatively common in certain years. Notable black band across top margin of wings makes it distinguishable from other swallowtails.
Photo by Sally King
RED-SPOTTED PURPLE (Limenitis arthemis)
Wingspan 3 - 3.5"
Uncommon in park but has been seen in Frijoles Canyon.
Photo by Sally King
MORMON FRITILLARY (Speyeria mormonia)
Wingspan 1.8 - 2.1"
Common throughout the park but especially in riparian areas.
Photo by Sally King
BRAMBLE HAIRSTREAK (Callophrys perplexa)
.7 - .9"
Common, especially in the Pinon-Juniper Woodland.
Photo by Sally King
SPRING AZURE (Celastrina ladon)
Wingspan .7 - .9"
Common in the spring throughout the park.
Photo by Sally King
DAINTY SULPHUR (Nathalis iole)
Wingspan .7 - .9"
Common in lower elevations of the park, especially in late summer and into fall.
Photo by Sally King
AMERICAN LADY (Vanessa virginiensis)
Wingspan 1.4 - 1.6"
Common in park especially in late summer and into autumn. Most likely found at higher elevations.
Photo by Sally King
PAINTED LADY (Vanessa cardui)
Wingspan 1.5 - 1.6"
Very common throughout the park especially in late summer to early autumn.
Photo by Sally King
MILBERT'S TORTOISESHELL (Nymphalis milberti)
Wingspan 1.2 - 1.4"
Uncommon but can be seen in higher elevation meadows such as on Alamo Boundary Trail or Cerro Grande Route.
photo by sally king
NAIS METALMARK (Apodemia nais)
.8 -1"
Common in upper Frijoles Canyon riparian area.
photo by sally king
CHRYXUS ARTIC (Oeneis chryxus)
Wingspan 1 - 1.2"
Found in the higher elevations of the park such as Cerro Grande Trail, Elk Pond, Alamo Boundary Trail in mid to late summer.
photo by sally king
SOUTHERN DOGFACE (Colias cesonia)
Wingspan 1.2 - 1.4"
Common mid to late summer in riparian areas such as Frijoles Canyon.
Did You Know?
The Valles Caldera is the collapsed summit of the Jemez Volcano which erupted over 1 million years ago. Ash from this volcano formed the volcanic tuff from which the Ancestral Pueblo people built their homes.