Western Brown Elfin

Western Brown Elfin, found from ocean level to tree-line in a fabulous mixed bag of territories; frequently regular. An early-spring species, possibly single-brooded but with indications of a second crop at the most reduced rises (which might be due to staggered emergence on different slopes). Males are territorial perchers. Both sexes visit flowers, including those of Redbud early in the season and Yerba Santa later.

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Posted in: Lycaenidae,W,Western Brown Elfin

Western Pine Elfin

The Western Pine Elfin (Callophrys eryphron) is a North American butterfly that ranges from British Columbia east to Maine and south to southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Males are brown and females are orange-brown, with both having bold patterned hind wings. The top of the wings have dark bars with a lighter chevron shaped margin. The body is 19–32 mm in length and has no tail.

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Posted in: Lycaenidae,W,Western Pine Elfin

Western Tiger Swallowtail

Adult Western Tiger Swallowtail  have a two-and-three-quarter to four-inch (seven- to ten-centimeter) wingspan. The wings are black and pale yellow with black tiger-stripes. The hindwings have tails at their lower tips that resemble the long tail feathers of a swallow; hence, their common name swallowtail. Also on the hindwing, there are narrow yellow spots along the wing's margin and orange tint on two spots near the end of the inner margin of the wing. Blue spots are found around the outer margin of the hindwing. The upper side of the hindwing may have a yellow spot on the outer margin. On the forewing, yellow spots form a continuous band along the outer margin of the wing. These yellow spots are bordered in black.

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Posted in: Papilionidae,W,Western Tiger Swallowtail