Identification of Common Butterflies

WESTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL (Papilio rutulus)
Wingspan 3.5 - 4.5"
Common throughout the park but especially in the riparian areas. Can sometimes be see in great numbers drinking and sunning along the water.

TWO-TAILED TIGER SWALLOWTAIL (Papilio multicaudata)
Wingspan 3.5 - 4.5"
Common throughout the park but especially in the riparian areas. Can sometimes be seen in great numbers drinking and sunning along the water.

BLACK SWALLOWTAIL (Papilio polyxenes coloro)
Wingspan 2.5 - 3.5 "
Common throughout the park. Males can be seen on the mesatops perched on low vegetation waiting for females to pass by.

MONARCH (Danaus plexippus)
Wingspan 3.3 - 3.7"
Common throughout the park especially in spring and fall during migration. Is toxic to many predators.

QUEEN (Danaus gilippus)
Wingspan 2.4 - 2.6"
Looks very similar to Monarch which deters predators. Common in park especially along the Rio Grande.

open queen — Open-winged Queen
photo by sally king

WEIDEMEYER'S ADMIRAL (Basilarchia weidemeyerii)
Wingspan 2 - 2.4"
Common in the canyons of the park and higher elevations. Males wait on low tree limbs waiting for females to fly past. They will "attack" passing hikers who disturb them.

CALIFORNIA SISTER (Adelpha bredowii)
Wingspan 2.5 - 2.9"
Common in the riparian areas. Males wait on low tree branches for females to pass by. They can "attack" passing hikers as well.

MARINE BLUE (Leptotes marina)
Wingspan .7 - .9"
Extremely common in the riparian zones of the park all summer long.

SARA ORANGETIP (Anthocharis sara)
Wingspan 1 - 1.3"
Common in the early to late spring. Rarely perches for more than a very short time.

ACMON BLUE (Plebejus acmon)
Wingspan .7 - .8"
Common along riparian zones within the park. Most frequently seen blue.

GREAT SPANGLED FRITILARY (Speyeria cybele)
Wingspan 2 - 2.4 "
Common during mid to late summer, especially in the canyons and higher elevation. Can be found in large congregations in some locations.

CANYONLAND SATYR (Cyllopsis Pertepida)
Wingspan 1 - 1.2"
Common in the riparian zone, usually in heavy vegetation.

WESTERN TAILED BLUE (Everest comments)
Wingspan .7 - .9"
Common in spring, early summer in the riparian areas. Can congregate in large numbers.

GRAY HAIRSTREAK (Strymon melinus)
Wingspan .8 - 1"
Common in the riparian zone and along the Rio Grande.

JUNIPER HAIRSTREAK (Mitoura grynea siva)
Wingspan .8 - .9"
Extremely common both in the canyons and on the mesas. Often seen at a variety of flowers. Easy to photograph as it isn't shy.

MOURNING CLOAK (Nymphalis antiopa)
Wingspan 2.5 - 2.7"
Most common early in the spring but can be seen most of the year. Can be seen as early as mid-February on a warm, sunny day. These butterflies overwinter in their adult stage tucked into spaces under loose bark.

SATYR COMMA (Polygonia satyrus)
Wingspan 1.6 - 1.8"
Most common in spring but found all summer long. Feeds on decaying vegetative material more than pollen. Often seen sunning themselves on downed logs and leaves.

CALIFORNIA TORTOISESHELL (Nymphalis californica)
Wingspan 1.5 - 1.7"
Spring only. Sporadic, there are years when they are numerous and others when they are nearly absent.

ORANGE SULFUR (Colias eurytheme)
Wingspan 1.4 - 1.7"
Common all spring and summer throughout the park.

WESTERN PYGMY BLUE (Brephidium exile)
Wingspan .5 - .6"
Smallest butterfly in North America. Common in late summer, fall especially in the riparian zones.

reakirts blue couple — Photo by Sally King

REAKIRT'S BLUE (Hemiargus isola)
Wingspan .7 - .8"
Can be found all summer and early fall. Less common than other blues in the park. Mostly found in the riparian zones and higher elevations.