Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
About
Observations
Species
Most butterflies and at many of the larger moths are fairly easy to identify from photographs (at least with the help of iNat, BugGuide, etc.). But the tiny moths (microlepidoptera) are hard to photograph and harder still to ID from photographs alone, so I often try to identify them from collected specimens. Here is a video that describes the process.
Lepidoptera
(Butterflies and Moths)
(Butterflies and Moths)
8 May 2026
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hanging from a thread in the yard. 6 mm
Brymblia quadrimaculella
2 May 2026
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On inside of garage window shade. Length 6 mm.
Noctua pronuba
(Large Yellow Underwing)
(Large Yellow Underwing)
2 May 2026
Emerged today from soil sample collected earlier
Noctuinae
(Cutworms and Dart Moths)
(Cutworms and Dart Moths)
30 Apr 2026
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This cutworm was dragged to cutworm wasp (Podalonia sp.) nest. I dug up the caterpillar after the wasp laid an egg and had finished filling and covering the hole. I\'ve put the caterpillar with the egg in a sand-filled container for rearing.
Noctuinae
(Cutworms and Dart Moths)
(Cutworms and Dart Moths)
24 Apr 2026
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Caterpillar being dragged into Podalonia burrow.
Dahlica sp.
5 Apr 2026
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Climbing up wall on front porch. 10 mm. I timed it\'s movement up the wall. It climbed 6 cm in 8 minutes. (7.5 mm/min)
Dahlica sp.
18 May 2025
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On March 24, I collected this bagworm larva crawling up the side of the garage. I\'m not sure when it pupated or emerged as an adult, but when I looked on April 8 this is what I found\r\n\r\nToday, as I was getting ready to discard the sample, I loo ...
Nymphalis californica
(California Tortoiseshell)
(California Tortoiseshell)
15 Apr 2025
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Associated Species: Galium boreale (Northern Bedstraw)
Dahlica sp.
8 Apr 2025
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On March 24, I collected a larva crawling up the side of the garage. I\'m not sure when it pupated or emerged as an adult, but when I looked today (15 days later) this is what I found.
Operophtera bruceata
(Bruce Spanworm Moth)
(Bruce Spanworm Moth)
On side of garage, wingspan ~25mm
Hyles lineata
(White-lined Sphinx)
(White-lined Sphinx)
28 Aug 2024
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Associated Species: Lavandula angustifolia (Common Lavender)
Hyles lineata
(White-lined Sphinx)
(White-lined Sphinx)
7 Aug 2024
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Associated Species: Lavandula angustifolia (Common Lavender)
Vanessa annabella
(West Coast Lady)
(West Coast Lady)
7 Aug 2024
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Associated Species: Lavandula angustifolia (Common Lavender)
Strymon melinus
(Gray Hairstreak)
(Gray Hairstreak)
30 Jul 2024
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On basil flowers
Associated Species: Ocimum basilicum (Sweet Basil)
Strymon melinus
(Gray Hairstreak)
(Gray Hairstreak)
30 Jul 2024
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On basil flowers
Associated Species: Ocimum basilicum (Sweet Basil)
Pieris rapae
(Cabbage White)
(Cabbage White)
29 Jul 2024
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On oregano flowers
Associated Species: Origanum vulgare (Oregano)
Ochlodes sylvanoides
(Woodland Skipper)
(Woodland Skipper)
28 Jul 2024
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Associated Species: Rubus idaeus (Red Raspberry)
Pieris rapae
(Cabbage White)
(Cabbage White)
26 Jul 2024
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On lavender flowers
Associated Species: Lavandula angustifolia (Common Lavender)
Tyta luctuosa
(Four-spotted Moth)
(Four-spotted Moth)
24 Jul 2024
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On oregano flowers
Associated Species: Origanum vulgare (Oregano)
Synanthedon bibionipennis
(Strawberry Crown Moth)
(Strawberry Crown Moth)
11 Jul 2024
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On a raspberry leaf
Associated Species: Rubus idaeus (Red Raspberry)
Dichrorampha vancouverana
1 Jul 2024
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On Common Yarrow flowers
Associated Species: Achillea millefolium (Common Yarrow)
Papilio eurymedon
(Pale Swallowtail)
(Pale Swallowtail)
29 Jun 2024
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On Red Valerian
Associated Species: Centranthus ruber (Red Valerian)
Limenitis lorquini
(Lorquin's Admiral)
(Lorquin's Admiral)
28 Jun 2024
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On Ocean Spray flowers
Associated Species: Holodiscus discolor (Ocean Spray)
Strymon melinus
(Gray Hairstreak)
(Gray Hairstreak)
24 Jun 2024
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On raspberry leaf
Associated Species: Rubus idaeus (Red Raspberry)
Papilio rutulus
(Western Tiger Swallowtail)
(Western Tiger Swallowtail)
22 Jun 2024
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On Red Valerian
Associated Species: Centranthus ruber (Red Valerian)
Phyciodes cocyta
(Northern Crescent)
(Northern Crescent)
22 Jun 2024
On white clover flowers in front (un-mowed) yard.
Associated Species: Trifolium repens (White Clover)
Albuna pyramidalis
(Fireweed Clearwing Moth)
(Fireweed Clearwing Moth)
21 Jun 2024
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On Eriogonum heracleoides (Parsnipflower Buckwheat) flowers
Associated Species: Eriogonum heracleoides (Parsnipflower Buckwheat)
Phyciodes cocyta
(Northern Crescent)
(Northern Crescent)
20 Jun 2024
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On Eriogonum heracleoides\n(Parsnipflower Buckwheat) flowers
Associated Species: Eriogonum heracleoides (Parsnipflower Buckwheat)
Papilio rutulus
(Western Tiger Swallowtail)
(Western Tiger Swallowtail)
19 Jun 2024
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On Hesperis matronalis flowers
Associated Species: Hesperis matronalis (Dame's Rocket)
Phyciodes cocyta
(Northern Crescent)
(Northern Crescent)
13 Jun 2024
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On Parsnipflower bucwheat
Associated Species: Eriogonum heracleoides (Parsnipflower Buckwheat)
Synanthedon tipuliformis
(Currant Clearwing Moth)
(Currant Clearwing Moth)
10 Jun 2024
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On raspberry leaf
Associated Species: Rubus idaeus (Red Raspberry)
Synanthedon tipuliformis
(Currant Clearwing Moth)
(Currant Clearwing Moth)
7 Jun 2024
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Associated Species: Rubus idaeus (Red Raspberry)
Pyralis farinalis
(Meal Moth)
(Meal Moth)
7 Jun 2024
On kitchen wall
Helicoverpa zea
(Corn Earworm Moth)
(Corn Earworm Moth)
8 May 2024
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Found at the tip of a corn cob as it was being husked. ~ 15 mm
Noctuoidea
(Owlet Moths and Allies)
(Owlet Moths and Allies)
27 Apr 2024
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Found while weeding in top layer of soil. 24 mm
Polygonia satyrus
(Satyr Comma)
(Satyr Comma)
20 Apr 2024
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First butterfly of the year - at least that I've seen so far in the yard.
Noctuoidea
(Owlet Moths and Allies)
(Owlet Moths and Allies)
7 Sep 2023
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On corn cob from grocery store. 6 mm
Melitaeini
(Checkerspots)
(Checkerspots)
21 Jun 2023
Noctua sp.
(Yellow Underwings)
(Yellow Underwings)
8 May 2023
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Dug up from a cutworm wasp (Podalonia) burrow. Length 35 mm.
Archips argyrospila
(Fruit-tree Leafroller Moth)
(Fruit-tree Leafroller Moth)
27 Jul 2022
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Caught in UV light trap
Dahlica sp.
24 Mar 2022
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I have no idea what this is. It\'s alive, though, and moving slowly on a spruce stump. ~ 5 mm.
Mompha unifasciella
14 Mar 2022
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Wing length ~ 6 mm\r\nCaptured near lamp in bedroom
Noctuidae
(Cutworm Moths and Allies)
(Cutworm Moths and Allies)
25 Sep 2020
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9 deg C, length 22 mm, black light trap
Chrysoteuchia topiarius
(Topiary Grass-Veneer)
(Topiary Grass-Veneer)
10 Jun 2020
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On grass in lawn. length ~ 1 cm
Gelechioidea
(Curved-horn Moths)
(Curved-horn Moths)
1 May 2019
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Found in bee hotel. \r\nLength ~ 8 mm\r\n
Autographa californica
(Alfalfa Looper)
(Alfalfa Looper)
6 Aug 2017
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Hard to photograph, since it hovered and moved quickly.
Associated Species: Lavandula angustifolia (Common Lavender)
Ochlodes sylvanoides
(Woodland Skipper)
(Woodland Skipper)
25 Jul 2017
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Associated Species: Lavandula angustifolia (Common Lavender)
Pieris rapae
(Cabbage White)
(Cabbage White)
25 Jul 2017
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Associated Species: Lavandula angustifolia (Common Lavender)
Hyles lineata
(White-lined Sphinx)
(White-lined Sphinx)
17 Jul 2017
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Associated Species: Lavandula angustifolia (Common Lavender)
Emmelina monodactyla
(Morning-glory Plume Moth)
(Morning-glory Plume Moth)
4 May 2017
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23 mm wingspan\r\nOn west side of house
Pero morrisonaria
(Morrison's Pero Moth)
(Morrison's Pero Moth)
16 Aug 2016
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Resting on my windowsill. Wingspan 40 mm.
Colias eurytheme
(Orange Sulphur)
(Orange Sulphur)
31 Jul 2016
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Associated Species: Lavandula angustifolia (Common Lavender)
Ochlodes sylvanoides
(Woodland Skipper)
(Woodland Skipper)
30 Jul 2016
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Associated Species: Lavandula angustifolia (Common Lavender)
Pieris rapae
(Cabbage White)
(Cabbage White)
30 Jul 2016
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Associated Species: Lavandula angustifolia (Common Lavender)
Strymon melinus
(Gray Hairstreak)
(Gray Hairstreak)
18 Jul 2016
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Associated Species: Trifolium repens (White Clover)
Papilio rutulus
(Western Tiger Swallowtail)
(Western Tiger Swallowtail)
16 Jul 2016
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Associated Species: Lavandula angustifolia (Common Lavender)
Autographa californica
(Alfalfa Looper)
(Alfalfa Looper)
9 Jul 2016
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This poor moth was being attacked by ants and could no longer fly. It may Be too far gone to identify, but I thought I'd give it a try.
You can see one of the ants on the moth's front leg in the second picture. I took a video and tried to post it, ...
Associated Species: Ancistrocerus albophaleratus (White-banded Potter Wasp)
Papilio rutulus
(Western Tiger Swallowtail)
(Western Tiger Swallowtail)
7 Jul 2016
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Associated Species: Hesperis matronalis (Dame's Rocket)
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