Gorgon Copper butterfly on her host plant
This is a female Gorgon Copper (Lycaena gorgon) butterfly perched on her host plant - native Longstem Buckwheat aka Wand Buckwheat (Eriogonum elongatum) in the Polygonaceae plant family. I know it's a female because I saw her ovipositing on another plant a few moments before. I also got a photo of the male butterfly today visiting flowers of Golden Yarrow, but I like this one better. Unfortunately, neither photo shows the pretty upper wings - see this photo for the upper wings of male and female together. (East Camino Cielo, Santa Ynez Mountains, 11 June 2018)
The winds finally died down today, leaving us with a gorgeous day. I saw hundreds of Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) butterflies today, as well as an unusual Callippe Fritillary (Speyeria callippe) and the first California Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thetis) of the year. No photos yet, but a quest begins!
Gorgon Copper butterfly on her host plant
This is a female Gorgon Copper (Lycaena gorgon) butterfly perched on her host plant - native Longstem Buckwheat aka Wand Buckwheat (Eriogonum elongatum) in the Polygonaceae plant family. I know it's a female because I saw her ovipositing on another plant a few moments before. I also got a photo of the male butterfly today visiting flowers of Golden Yarrow, but I like this one better. Unfortunately, neither photo shows the pretty upper wings - see this photo for the upper wings of male and female together. (East Camino Cielo, Santa Ynez Mountains, 11 June 2018)
The winds finally died down today, leaving us with a gorgeous day. I saw hundreds of Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) butterflies today, as well as an unusual Callippe Fritillary (Speyeria callippe) and the first California Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thetis) of the year. No photos yet, but a quest begins!