Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Butterfly Macrophotography, Moth MacrophotographyPhotography by Donald Gudehus                            

Class Insecta - Insects

Subclass Pterygota - Winged Insects

Order Lepidoptera - Butterflies and Moths

Suborder Zeugloptera

Suborder Aglossata

Suborder Exoporia

Suborder Heteroneura

Suborder Monotrysia

Suborder Ditrysia, Borner, 1925 - Higher Moths and Butterflies

Superfamily Hesperioidea, Latreille, 1809 - Skippers and Giant Skippers

Family Hesperiidae Latreille, 1809 - Skippers

Superfamily Papilionoidea, Latreille, 1802 - Non Skippers

Family Papilionidae Latreille, 1802 - Swallowtails and Relatives
Family Pieridae Duponchel, 1832 - Whites, Marbles, and Sulphurs
Family Lycaenidae Leach, 1815 - Gossamer-wing Butterflies
Family Nymphalidae Swainson, 1827 - Brush-footed Butterflies


Superfamily Yponomeutoidea

Family Yponomeutidae Stephens, 1829 - Ermine Moths

Superfamily Pterophoroidea, Zeller, 1841

Family Pterophoridae Zeller, 1841 - Plume Moths

Superfamily Pyraloidea, Latreille, 1802

Family Crambidae Latreille, 1810 - Grass Moths and Snout Moths

Superfamily Geometroidea, Leach, 1815

Family Geometridae Leach, 1815 - Geometrid Moths

Superfamily Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802

Family Bombycidae, Latreille, 1802
Family Lasiocampidae Harris, 1841 - Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Mothes
Family Saturniidae Boisduval, 1837 - Silk Moths

Superfamily Sphingoidea

Family Sphingidae Latreille, 1802 - Sphinx Moths


Superfamily Noctuoidea

Family Notodontidae Stephens, 1829
Family Arctiidae Leach, 1815
Family Noctuidae Latreille, 1809 - Owlet Moths

Family Hesperiidae, Latreille, 1809 - Skippers

Subfamily Pyrginae, Burmeister, 1878 - Dicot Skippers or Spread-wing Skippers
Epargyreus aspina (Evans, 1952) -The Spineless Silverdrop
Epargyreus clarus clarus (Cramer, 1775) -The Silver-spotted Skipper
Polygonus leo leo (Gmelin, 1790) - The Hammock Skipper
Urbanus proteus domingo (Scudder, 1872) -The Long-tailed Skipper
Thorybes pylades (Scudder, 1870) - The Northern Duskywing
Thorybes bathyllus (Smith, 1797) - The Southern Duskywing
Erynnis propertius (Scudder & Burgess, 1870) - The Propertius Duskywing
Pyrgus oileus oileus (Linnaeus, 1758) - The Tropical Checkered Skipper
Pyrgus ruralis ruralis (Boisduval, 1852) - The Two-banded Checkered Skipper
Pyrgus communis (Grote, 1872) - The Common Checkered Skipper
Heliopetes ericetorum (Boisduval, 1852) - The Northern White-Skipper

Subfamily Hesperiinae, Latreille, 1809 - Monocot Skippers or Folded-winged Skippers
Carterocephalus palaemon skada (W. H. Edwards, 1870) - The Arctic Skipper
Hesperia colorado oregonia (W. H. Edwards, 1883) - The Western Branded Skipper
Hesperia lindseyi septentrionalis (Holland, 1930) - Lindsey's Skipper
Atalopedes campestris campestris (Boisduval, 1852) - The Sachem
Polites mardon klamathensis (W. H. Edwards, 1881) - The Mardon Skipper
Polites sonora sonora (Scudder, 1872) - The Sonora Skipper
Polites sonora siris (W. H. Edwards, 1881) - The Sonora Skipper aka The Dog Star Skipper
Ochlodes sylvanoides sylvanoides (Boidsduval, 1852) - The Woodland Skipper
Choranthus vitellius (Fabricius, 1793) - The V Marked Skipper
Poanes melane melane (W. H. Edwards, 1869) - The Umber Skipper
Euphyes vestris vestris (Boisduval, 1852) - The Dun Skipper




Family Papilionidae, Latreille, 1802 - Swallowtails and Relatives

Subfamily Parnassiinae, Duponchel, 1835 - Parnassians and Festoons
Parnassius clodius claudianus (Stichel, 1907) - The Clodius Parnassian
Parnassius clodius sol (Bryk & Eisner, 1932) - The Clodius Parnassian

Subfamily Papilioninae, Latreille, 1802 - Swallowtails, Kites, and Birdwings
Parides photinus (Doubleday, 1844) - The Red-spotted Cattleheart
Battus philenor (Linnaeus, 1771) - The Blue Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes asterius (Stoll, 1782) - The Black Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon zelicaon (Lucas, 1852) - The Anise Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus (Linnaeus, 1764) - The Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio canadensis (Rothschild & Jordan, 1906) - The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus (Lucas, 1852) - The Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio eurymedon (Lucas, 1852) - The Pale Swallowtail
Papilio anchisiades idaeus (Fabricius, 1793) - The Ruby-spotted Swallowtail




Family Pieridae, Duponchel, 1832 - Whites, Marbles and Sulphurs

Subfamily Dismorphiinae (Mimic-whites)
Subfamily Pierinae, Duponchel, 1832 - Whites and Marbles
Pontia occidentalis (Reakirt, 1866) - The Western White
Pieris marginalis castoria (Scudder, 1861) - The Margined White
Ascia monuste virginia (Godart, 1819) - The Great Southern White
Pieris rapae rapae (Linnaeus, 1758) - The Cabbage Butterfly
Appias drusilla (Cramer, 1777) - The Florida White
Anthocharis lanceolata lanceolata (Lucas, 1852) - The Gray Marble
Anthocharis sara flora (W. G. Wright, 1905) - Sara's Orangetip

Subfamily Coliadinae, Swainson, 1827 - Sulphurs, Yellows, and Oranges
Tribe Euremini
Eureme hecabe sulphurata (Butler, 1875) - The Large Grass Yellow aka The Common Grass Yellow
Tribe Coliadini
Colias eurytheme (Boisduval, 1852) - The Orange Sulphur
Colias occidentalis occidentalis (Scudder, 1862) - The Western Sulphur




Family Lycaenidae, Leach, 1815 - Gossamer-wing Butterflies

Subfamily Lycaeninae, Leach, 1815 - Coppers, Hairstreaks, and Blues
Tribe Lycaenini, Leach, 1815 - Coppers
Lycaena cupreus cupreus (W. H. Edwards, 1870) - The Lustrous Copper
Lycaena xanthoides xanthoides (Boisduval, 1852) - The Great Copper
Lycaena xanthoides nigromaculata (Emmel & Pratt, 1998) - The Great Copper
Lycaena rubidus rubidus (Behr, 1866) - The Ruddy Copper
Lycaena helloides helloides (Boisduval, 1852) - The Purplish Copper
Lycaena nivalis nivalis (Boisduval, 1869) - The Lilac-bordered Copper
Lycaena mariposa mariposa (Reakirt, 1866) - The Mariposa Copper
Lycaena salustius (Fabricius, 1793) - The Common Copper
Tribe Eumaeini, Doubleday, 1847 - Hairstreaks
Satyrium sylvinus sylvinus (Boisduval, 1852) - The Sylvan Hairstreak
Satyrium auretorum spadix (Boisduval, 1852) - The Gold-hunter's Hairstreak
Satyrium tetra (Edwards, 1870) - The Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak
Callophrys dumetorum viridis (Edwards, 1882) - The Coastal Green Hairstreak
Callophrys gryneus nelsoni (Hübner, 1819) - The Cedar Hairstreak aka Nelson's Juniper Hairstreak
Callophrys augustinus iroides (Westwood, 1852) - The Brown Elfin
Callophrys mossii mossii (Hy. Edwards, 1881) - Moss's Elfin
Strymon columella columella (Fabricius, 1793) - Hewitson's Hairstreak
Strymon melinus atrofasciata (Hy. Edwards, 1877) - The Gray Hairstreak
Panthiades bathildis (C. & R. Felder, 1865) - The Zebra-striped Hairstreak
Jamides bochus candrena (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869) - The Dark Cerulean
Tribe Polyommatini, Swainson, 1827 - Blues
Everes amyntula amyntula (Boisduval, 1852) - The Western Tailed Blue
Everes comyntas texanus (Chermock, 1944) - The Eastern Tailed Blue
Euphilotes enoptes enoptes (Boisduval, 1852) - The Pacific Dotted Blue
Philotes battoides battoides (Behr, 1867) - The Square-spotted Blue
Glaucopsyche lygdamus columbia (Skinner, 1917) - The Silvery blue
Plebejus anna ricei (Cross, 1937) - The Northern Blue
Plebejus melissa inyoensis (W. H. Edwards, 1873) - Melissa's Blue
Plebejus saepiolus aehaja (Behr, 1867) - The Greenish Blue
Plebejus saepiolus insulanus (Blackmore, 1919) - The Greenish Blue
Plebejus icarioides icarioides (Boisduval, 1852) - Boisduval's Blue
Plebejus icarioides evius (Boisduval, 1869) - Boisduval's Blue
Plebejus icarioides fenderi (Macy, 1931) - Fender's Blue
Plebejus icarioides fulla (W. H. Edwards, 1870) - Boisduval's Blue
Plebejus shasta shasta (W. H. Edwards, 1862) - The Shasta Blue
Plebejus acmon acmon (Westwood & Hewitson, 1852) - The Acmon Blue
Plebejus lupini lupini (Boisduval, 1869) - The Lupine Blue
Plebejus lupini monticola (Clemence, 1909) - The Lupine Blue
Leptotes marina (Reakirt, 1868) - The Marine Blue
Celastrina echo echo (W. H. Edwards, 1864) - The Spring Azure
Celastrina echo cinerea (W. H. Edwards, 1883) - The Arizona Blue
Zizina labradus mangoensis (Butler, 1884) - The Lesser Grass Blue
Zizina labradus oxleyi (C. & R. Felder, 1865) - The Southern Blue

Subfamily Riodininae, Grote, 1895 - Metalmarks
Calephelis tikal (Austin, 1993) - The Tikal Calephelis




Family Nymphalidae, Swainson, 1827 - Brush-footed Butterflies

Subfamily Heliconiinae, Swainson, 1827 - Actinotes, Longwings and Fritillaries
Tribe Heliconiini, Penz, 1999 - Longwings
Agraulis vanillae incarnata (Linnaeus, 1758) - The Gulf Fritillary
Agraulis vanillae insularis (Maynard, 1889) - The Gulf Fritillary
Heliconius erato petiverana (Doubleday, 1847) - The Crimson-patched Longwing
Tribe Argynnini, Swainson, 1827 - Fritillaries
Speyeria callippe elaine (Boisduval, 1852) - The Callippe Fritillary
Speyeria aphrodite ethne (Hemming, 1933) - The Western Aphrodite Fritillary
Speyeria egleis oweni (Edwards, 1892) - The Egleis Fritillary
Speyeria hydaspe hydaspe (Boisduval, 1869) - The Hydaspe Fritillary
Boloria epithore chermocki (E. & S. Perkins, 1966) - The Western Meadow Fritillary or Pacific Fritillary

Subfamily Nymphalinae, Swainson, 1827 - True Brushfoots
Chlosyne theona (Ménétriés, 1855) - The Theona Checkerspot
Chlosyne hoffmanni segregata (Barnes & McDunnough, 1918) - Hoffmann's Checkerspot
Chlosyne palla palla (Boisduval, 1852) - The Northern Checkerspot
Phyciodes orseis herlani The Sierra Nevada Crescent
Phyciodes pulchella owimba (Scott, 1998) - The Field Crescent
Phyciodes mylitta mylitta (Edwards, 1861) - The Mylitta Crescent
Anthanassa tulcis (Bates, 1864) - The Pale-banded Crescent
Euphydryas phaeton phaeton (Drury, 1773) - The Baltimore Checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona chalcedona (Doubleday, 1847) -The Chalcedona Checkerspot or Variable Checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona colon (W. H. Edwards, 1881) -The Chalcedona Checkerspot or Variable Checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona macglashanii (Rivers, 1888) -The Chalcedona Checkerspot or Variable Checkerspot
Euphydryas editha colonia (W. G. Wright, 1905) - Edith's Checkerspot
Nymphalis californica (Boisduval, 1862) - The California Tortoiseshell
Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus, 1758) - The Mourning Cloak
Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758) - The Painted Lady
Vanessa annabella (Field, 1971) - The West Coast Lady
Vanessa atalanta rubria (Fruhstorfer, 1909) - The Red Admiral
Colobura dirce (Linnaeus, 1764) - The Mosaic
Junonia coenia grisea (Austin & J. Emmel, 1998) -The Buckeye
Junonia villida (Godart, 1819) - The Meadow Argus
Polygonia comma (Harris, 1842) - The Comma
Polygonia satyrus neomarsyas (dos Passos, 1969) - The Satyr Comma
Anartia fatima (Godart, 1820) - The Banded Peacock
Siproeta stelenes biplagiata (Fruhstorfer, 1907) - The Malachite
Hypolimnas bolina pallescens (Butler, 1874) - The Blue Moon

Subfamily Limenitinae, Behr, 1864 - Sisters and Admirals
Limenitis lorquini lorquini (Boisduval, 1862) - Lorquin's Admiral
Limenitis lorquini itelkae (Guppy, 2001) - Lorquin's Admiral
Adelpha bredowii californica (Butler, 1865) - The California Sister
Adelpha basiloides (Bates, 1865) - The Spot-celled Sister

Subfamily Biblidinae, Boisduval, 1833 - Exotic Brushfoots
Marpesia berania (Hewitson, 1852) - The Orange Daggerwing
Temenis laothoe agatha (Fabricius, 1787) - The Orange Banner

Subfamily Morphinae, Newman, 1834 - Morphos and Owl Butterflies
Tribe Brassolini, Boisduval, 1836 - Owl Butterflies
Caligo memnon memnon (Felder & Felder, 1866) - The Owl Butterfly

Subfamily Satyrinae, Boisduval, 1833 - Satyrs, Browns, and Ringlets

Coenonympha tullia california (Westwood, 1851) - The California Ringlet
Coenonympha tullia eryngii (Hy. Edwards, 1877) - The Common Ochre Ringlet
Coenonympha tullia eunomia (Dornfeld, 1967) - The Common Ochre Ringlet
Cercyonis pegala ariane (Boisduval, 1852) - The Common Wood-nymph
Cercyonis sthenele silvestris (Edwards, 1861) - The Great Basin Wood-nymph
Oenis nevadensis nevadensis (C. & R. Felder) - The Great Arctic
Euptychia cymela cymela (Cramer, 1777) - The Little Wood Satyr
Hermeuptychia hermes (Fabricius, 1775) - The Hermes Satyr
Cissia metaleuca (Boisduval, 1870) - The One-banded Satyr

Subfamily Danainae, Boisduval, 1833

Euploea tulliolus forsteri (C. & R. Felder, 1865) - Crow Butterfly
Euploea lewinii eschscholtzii (C. & R. Felder, 1865) - Crow Butterfly




African butterflies (under construction)


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Family Yponomeutidae, Stephens, 1829 - Ermine Moths

Subfamily Pterophorinae, Zeller, 1841
Atteva punctella (Cramer, 1782) - The Ailanthus Webworm Moth




Family Pterophoridae, Zeller, 1841 - Plume Moths

Subfamily Pterophorinae, Zeller, 1841
Emmelina monodactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) - The Morning-glory Plume Moth




Family Crambidae, Latreille, 1810 - Grass Moths

Subfamily Pyraustinae - Snout Moths
Arthromastix lauralis (Walker, 1859)




Family Geometridae, Leach, 1815 - Geometrids

Subfamily Ennominae, Duponchel, 1845
Tribe Azelinini
Pero behrensaria (Packard, 1871) - Behr's Pero
Tribe Ourapterygini
Synaxis cervinaria (Packard, 1871) - The Falcate Synaxis Moth

Subfamily Geometrinae, Leach, 1815 - Emeralds
Tribe Nemoriini
Nemoria darwiniata darwiniata (Dyar, 1904) - Darwin's Emerald Moth

Subfamily Larentiinae,
Tribe Xanthorhoini
Xanthorhoe defensaria (Guenée, 1857) - The Carpet Moth




Family Lasiocampidae, Harris, 1841

Subfamily Lasiocampinae
Tribe Gastropachini
Phyllodesma americana (Harris, 1841) - The American Lappet Moth




Family Saturniidae, Boisduval, 1837 - Silk Moths

Subfamily Citheroniinae
Dryocampa rubicunda (Fabricius, 1793) - The Rosy Maple-Moth

Subfamily Saturniinae
Hemileuca eglanterina (Boisduval, 1852) - The Elegant Sheep Moth
Antheraea polyphemus (Cramer, 1776) - The Polyphemus Moth
Actias luna (Linnaeus, 1758) - The Luna Moth
Samia cynthia (Drury, 1773) - The Ailanthus Moth




Family Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 - Sphinx Moths

Subfamily Sphinginae, Latreille, 1802
Sphinx vashti (Strecker, 1878) - The Vashti Sphinx
Smerinthus jamaicensis - The Twin-spot Sphinx

Subfamily Macroglossinae
Hyles lineata - The White-lined Sphinx




Family Notodontidae, Stephens, 1829 - Prominent Moths

Subfamily Phalerinae
Nadata oregonensis (Butler, 1881) - The Oregon Prominent Moth




Family Arctiidae, Leach, 1815 - Tiger Moths and Lichen Moths

Subfamily Arctiinae - Tiger Moths
Arachnis picta (Packard, 1864) - The Painted Tiger Moth
Pyrrharctia isabella (J. E. Smith, 1797) - The Isabella Moth
Platyprepia virginalis (Boisduval, 1852) - The Ranchmans's Tiger-Moth
Tyria jacobaeae (Linnaeus, 1758) - The Cinnabar Moth




Family Noctuidae, Latreille, 1809 - Owlet Moths

Subfamily Catocalinae
Drasteria divergens (Behr, 1870)
Drasteria adumbrata (H. Edwards, 1881) - The Shadowy Arches Moth
Catocala unijuga (Walker, 1858) - The Once-married Underwing

Subfamily Heliothinae
Heliothodes diminutivus (Grote, 1873)
Subfamily Noctuinae
Noctua pronuba (Linnaeus, 1758) - The Large Yellow Underwing



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