Butterflies of Kern County, California

Alison Sheehey and Ken Davenport

LEGEND

C=common  O=occasional  LC=locally common  U=uncommon  R=rare V=vagrant  X=exceptional

G=Greenhorn Mtns.   B= Breckenridge Mtn.  P=Piute Mtns.  T=Tehachapi Mtns. MP=Mt. Pinos region   FP=Frazier Park Te=Temblors    SJV=San Joaquin Valley    LI=Lake Isabella  KC=Kern River Canyon   KRV=Kern River Valley    MD=Mojave Desert  [names in parentheses current synonyms - brackets old names]

USGS Butterflies of California http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/map?x=160&y=159&si=5 

Common Name

Scientific Name

Swallowtails         Family Papilionidae

1 Parnassian

Subfamily Parnassiinae

Clodius Parnassian

(Baldur Parnassian)

Parnassius clodius baldur

no capture records - G, KRV

8 Swallowtails

Subfamily Papilioninae

Pipevine Swallowtail

Battus philenor philenor

R -- P, SJV

Black Swallowtail

E. Sierras, strays -  SJV & KRV, O- MD  (wet years only) -

Anise Swallowtail

Papilio zelicaon zelicaon

Hilltops montane habitats, LC -- cities orange groves

Indra Swallowtail

(Phyllis's Swallowtail)

Papilio indra phyllisae

arid slopes P

Western Tiger Swallowtail

Papilio rutulus rutulus

cities

Two-tailed Swallowtail

(Smaller Two-tailed Swallowtail)

Papilio multicaudata pusillus

R - Mtns

Pale Swallowtail

Papilio eurymedon

high Mtns.

Giant Swallowtail

Papilio cresphontes

[Heraclides]

X- SJV orange groves

Whites and Sulphurs                        Family Pieridae

10 Whites

Subfamily Pierinae

Pine White

Neophasia menapia

(Pine White)

N. m. menapia

(Tehachapi Pine White)

N. m. tehachapina

1. L - Greenhorns Yellow Pines

 2. L - Tehachapis

Becker's White

Pontia beckerii

C -- arid areas

Spring White

Pontia sisymbrii sisymbrii

C -- foothills

Checkered White

Pontia protodice

C - Feb-Oct Arid SJV, MD, and arid Mtns.

Cabbage White

Pieris rapae

[Artogeia]

C --year-round

Desert Marble

Euchloe lotta 

C- arid mtns., Kelso, T, and MD

California Marble

(Pearly Marble)

Euchloe hyantis

Mt. Pinos and FP

Desert Orangetip 

Anthocharis cethura

(Marbled Desert Orangetip)

A. c. hadromarmorata

(Morrison's Orangetip)

A. c. morrisoni

1 = D Mtns

2 = KRV SJV

Sara Orangetip 

(Pacific Orangetip)

Anthocharis sara sara

C -- foothills canyons

Gray Marble

(Grinnell's Marble)

Anthocharis lanceolata

A. c. lanceolata

A. l. australis

1 = Sierras

2 = Frazier Park

8 Sulphurs 

Subfamily Coliadinae

Orange Sulphur

Colias eurytheme

C -- alfalfa - grassfields

Harford's Sulphur

Colias harfordii

FP, T, rare P and Kelso

California Dogface 

Zerene eurydice

Temblors  - Tehachapis

Southern Dogface 

Zerene cesonia cesonia

U -- Mtns. and MD

Cloudless Sulphur 

Phoebis sennae marcellina

R -- wet years MD

Mexican Yellow 

Eurema mexicana

R -- KRV SJV Frazier Park

Sleepy Orange 

Abaeis (Eurema) nicippe

Cantil SJV

Dainty Sulphur 

(Dwarf Yellow)

Nathalis iole

FP

Gossamer-wing Butterflies               Family Lycaenidae

5 Coppers

Subfamily Lycaeninae

Tailed Copper

Lycaena arota arota

[Tharsalea]

gooseberries

Great Copper

Lycaena xanthoides xanthoides

[Gaeides]

Mtns

Gorgon Copper  

Lycaena gorgon

L. g. gorgon

L. g. micropunctata

[Gaeides]

1 = T, P, W. Sierras

2 = E. Sierras, KRV, and w. MD Mtns.

Blue Copper

Lycaena heteronea clara

[Chalceria]

Scarce and local, P, FP, Lake of the Woods

Purplish Copper 

Lycaena helloides helloides

[Epidemia]

O -- SJV foothills

17 Hairstreaks 

Subfamily Theclinae

Golden Hairstreak 

(Boisduval's Hairstreak)

Habrodais grunus grunus

woodlands

Great Purple Hairstreak

Atlides halesus estesi

O -- mistletoe

Silver-banded Hairstreak

(Sarita Hairstreak)

Chlorostrymon simaethis sarita

X -- Cantil

Behr's Hairstreak 

Satyrium behrii behrii

C -- E. Sierra

California Hairstreak

Satyrium californicum californicum

woodlands below 6000'

Sylvan Hairstreak 

Satyrium sylvinus 

S. s. sylvinum

S. s. desertorium

S. s. dryope

1 = Poso

2 = KC, KRV, T

3 = FP

Gold-hunter's Hairstreak

Satyrium auretorum

S. a. auretorum

S. a. spadix

1 = Te

2 = T, Sierras high

Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak

Satyrium tetra

chaparral - montane

Hedgerow Hairstreak

Satyrium saepium

S. s. chalcis

S. s. subaridum

1 = montane

2 = Walker Pass

Perplexing Hairstreak

(Bramble Hairstreak) 

Callophrys perplexa perplexa

KC - Mtns.

Brown Elfin 

Callophrys augustinus iroides

[Incisalia]

montane forests, woodland foothills and  canyons

Western Pine Elfin 

G, B, KP

Thicket Hairstreak

Callophrys spinetorum spinetorum

[Loranthomitoura]

T, Caliente

Juniper Hairstreak 

Callophrys siva

[Mitoura] (Callophrys gryneus)

C. s. juniperaria

C. s. mansfieldi

1 = MP, P, E. G, arid S. Sierra

2 = Te

Muir's Hairstreak 

Callophrys muiri

[Mitoura]

Cottonwood Pass in junipers

Nelson's Hairstreak 

Callophrys nelsoni nelsoni

[Mitoura]

G in incense cedar

Mallow Hairstreak

Strymon istapa clenchi

X - LI

Gray Hairstreak 

(Common Hairstreak)

Strymon melinus pudicus

O = below 8000'

23 Blues

Subfamily Polyommatinae

Western Pygmy-Blue

Brephidium exile

arid, lowlands & desert

Marine Blue

Leptotes marina

C - Isabella Reservoir, SJV, MD

Ceraunus Blue

Hemiargus ceraunus gyus

lower KC, BKSFLD, Koehn Lake

Reakirt's Blue 

Hemiargus isola alce

U - West SJV, Temblors, Kelso, Cantil

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Everes comyntas comyntas

V - KR

Western Tailed-Blue 

Everes amyntula amyntula

C - Temblors, Mtns

Echo Azure

Spring Azure

Celastrina echo

[C. argiolus]

foothills, forests

Sonoran Blue 

Philotes sonorensis sonorensis

R - Mtns.

Western Square-dotted Blue

Comstock's Blue

(Square-spotted Blue) 

Euphilotes battoides comstocki

Mtns.

Bernardino Dotted-Blue

Euphilotes bernardino

Bernardino Blue

E. b. bernardino

Inyo-Mountains Blue

E. b. inyomontanus

1. C - Mtns, KRV

2. MD, Walker Pass, Kelso

Pacific Dotted-Blue

Euphilotes enoptes

Dotted Blue

E. e. enoptes

Tilden's Blue

E. e. tildeni

Langston's Blue

E. e. langstoni

1. Greenhorns

2. Temblors, So.  Sierra's to MT. Pinos

3. Scodies east to desert mtns.

Mojave Dotted-Blue

image courtesy Bruce Webb © 2005

Euphilotes mojave

arid slopes of Sierras and Tehachapis, MD, Kelso

Pallid Dotted-Blue

Elvira's Blue

Euphilotes pallescens elvirae

east of Walker Pass S. to east Tehachapi's

Small Dotted-Blue

Small Blue

Philotiella speciosa speciosa

R - SJV, MD

Arrowhead Blue 

Glaucopsyche piasus

G. p. piasus

G. p. excubitus

1. Greenhorns

2. Kelso, Havilah, Frazier Park

Silvery Blue

Glaucopsyche lygdamus - eastern Sierra

Southern Silvery Blue

G. l. australis

Columbia Blue

G. l. nr. columia

1. east Sierra, Kelso, Piutes

2. Frazier Park

3. Greenhorns, upper KC

Melissa Blue 

Orange-margined Blue

Lycaeides melissa paradoxa

KRV, Tehachapi's, Kelso, Frazier Park

Greenish Blue 

Plebejus saepiolus nr. aehaja

[Plebeius]

Greenhorns, Piutes

San Emigdio Blue

Plebejus emigdionis

[Plebeius]

Transverse to Tehachapi's, KRV

Boisduval's Blue

(Common Blue)

Plebejus icarioides

[Icaricia]  [Plebeius]

Evius Blue

P. i. evius

Boisduval's Blue

P. i. eosierra

Atascadero Blue

P. i. atascadero

1.  Greenhorns, Piutes, Tehachapi's to Frazier Park

2. Walker and Bird Spring Passes

3. Cottonwood Pass (Temblors)

Acmon Blue 

Plebejus acmon acmon

[Icaricia] [Plebeius]

entire county

Lupine Blue

Plebejus  lupini

[Icaricia] [Plebeius]

Lupine Blue

P. l. lupini

Clemence's Blue

P. l. monticola

Lupine Blue

P. l. argentata

Green Blue

P. l. chlorina

Lupine Blue

P. l.  unnamed

1. Fay Creek - Kern Plateau

2. Mtns.

3. E. Sierra, Walker Pass, Kelso, Piutes

4. possibly Mt. Pinos

5. High elevation Eriogonum umbellatum

Veined Blue

Plebejus neurona

[Icaricia] [Plebeius]

Kelso, E. G, P, T to FP

5 Metalmarks                                 Family Riodinidae

Mormon Metalmark

Apodemia mormo

A. m. nr. mormo

A. m. nr. langei (endangered)

1. Kernville, E. G

2. Cottonwood Pass, Annette region

(Mormon, Tuolumne, Sonoran, and Behr's considered subspecific under A. mormo by some)

Tuolumne Metalmark

Apodemia cythera tuolumnensis

upper KC, KRV, Walker Pass, Mtns

Sonoran Metalmark

(Desert Metalmark)

Apodemia mejicanus deserti

desert Mtns. E. Sierra

Behr's Metalmark

Apodemia virgulti complex

A. v. virgulti,

Davenport's Metalmark

A. v. davenporti

A. v. mojavelimbus

1. T

2. Walker Pass, Kelso, Butterbredt, E. G, Piutes, K

3. E. T, lower KC

Palmer's Metalmark 

Apodemia palmerii palmerii

MD dry lakes

Brush-footed Butterflies

Family Nymphalidae

1 Snout

American Snout

Snout Butterfly

Libytheana carinenta streckeri

R - Bakersfield, Koehn Lake

8 Heliconians and Fritillaries

Subfamily Heliconiinae

Gulf Fritillary

Agraulis vanillae incarnata

SJV cities, FP

Variegated Fritillary 

Euptoieta claudia

E. MD

Coronis Fritillary

Speyeria coronis hennei

C - FP, MP, T

R - P. ? G, KP

Callippe Fritillary

Speyeria callippe

Macaria Fritillary

S. c. macaria

Unsilvered Macaria Fritillary

S. c. laurina

Comstock's Fritillary

S. c. comstocki

1. FP to T

2. G, B

3. Te

Great Basin Fritillary

Speyeria egleis

Egleis Fritillary

S. p. egleis

Tehachapi Fritillary

S. p. tehachapina

1. N. G

2. P, X- T

Unsilvered Fritillary

Speyeria adiaste atossa

X - Mtns.

Hydaspe Fritillary

Greenhorn Fritillary

Speyeria hydaspe viridicornis

 G from Shirley Meadows N.

Pacific Fritillary

Sierra Meadow Fritillary

Boloria epithore sierra

Sunday Peak N.

20 True Brush-foots

Subfamily Nymphalinae

Leanira Checkerspot

Thessalia leanira

Wright's Leanira Checkerspot

T. l. leanira X  wrightii "blend zone"

T. l. alma

1. KRV, E. Greenhorns, Piutes, Walker Basin

2. Walker Pass, Red Rock, E. Tehachapis

California Patch

Chlosyne californica

X - E. Mojave

Northern Checkerspot

Chlosyne palla

C. p. palla

C. p. australomontana

1. Mtns.

2. Walker Pass, Kelso

Sagebrush Checkerspot

Neumoegen's Checkerspot

Chlosyne acastus neumoegeni

E. Walkern Pass, Red Rock Canyon Randsburg

Gabb's Checkerspot 

Chlosyne gabbii gabbii

FP

Texan Crescent  

Phyciodes texana

(Anthanassa texana texana)

X - Kelso

Field Crescent

Phyciodes pulchellus deltarufa

(P. pratensis)

confusion reins on Kern's

montane specimens, may be P. p. pulchellus or  P. p. montanus, stay tuned

Upper KC, Greenhorn, KRV foothills to Havilah

Mylitta Crescent

photographed North Meadow, Tulare County

Phyciodes mylitta mylitta

Mtns., O - SJV

Variable Checkerspot

Euphydryas chalcedona

Chalcedon Checkerspot

E. c. chalcedona (most likely a different ssp.)

Olancha Checkerspot

E. c. olancha

1. FP S. Sierra, Tehachapi's 2. Kelso

Edith's Checkerspot

Euphydryas editha - southern Sierra

Ruddy Checkerspot

E. e. rubicunda

1. Walker Pass S. to Bird Springs Pass, Piute Mtns.

2. Alder/Cedar Creeks, Greenhorns, KC

Satyr Comma

Mountain Streams, Kern River Bakersfield

Hoary Comma

Zephyr Anglewing

Polygonia gracilis zephyrus

Greenhorn, Piutes, Mt. Pinos

California Tortoiseshell

Nymphalis californica californica

Mtns. O - SJV

Mourning Cloak

Nymphalis antiopa antilopa

streams, SJV, KRV, Mtns. O- MD

Milbert's Tortoiseshell

Nymphalis milberti subpallida

 [Aglais]

Mtns. R - Mt. Pinos, O - KRV O - SJV

American Lady

American Painted Lady

Vanessa virginiensis

O - Mtns.

R- SJV

Painted Lady

Vanessa cardui

Entire county

West Coast Lady

Vanessa annabella

Entire county

Red Admiral 

Vanessa atalanta rubria

suburban areas, mtn streams, Kelso

Common Buckeye

Buckeye Butterfly

Junonia coenia grisea

entire county

2 Admirals and Relatives

Subfamily Limenitidinae

Lorquin's Admiral

Limenitis lorquini  

L. l. lorquini

Powell's Admiral

L. l. powelli

1. SJV, KC, KRV, S. Sierra, Mt. Pinos

2. Tehachapi Mtn Park

California Sister

Adelpha bredowii californica

Foothills, Mtns.

3 Satyrs

Subfamily Satyrinae

Common Ringlet

California Ringlet

Coenonympha california california

O - SJV, Kelso, strays to 8000'

Common Wood Nymph  

Cercyonis pegala

Greenhorns

Great Basin Wood Nymph

Cercyonis sthenele

Sylvan Satyr

C. s. silvestris

Behr's Wood-Nymph

C. s. behrii

1. ? Greenhorns

2. Walker Pass, Kelso, E. Greenhorns, S. Mtns.

2 Monarchs

Subfamily Danainae

Monarch

Danaus plexippus

entire county

Queen 

Danaus gilippus thersippus

MD, KRV, SJV, Tehachapi's

16 Spread-wing Skippers

Subfamily Pyrginae

Silver-spotted Skipper

Epargyreus clarus californicus

LC - G, T, P

Hammock Skipper

Polygonus leo arizonensis

(P. lividus )

X - Caliente, Cantil

Northern Cloudywing 

Thorybes pylades indistinctus

C- Greenhorns, U- Tehachapi's

Sleepy Duskywing

Erynnis brizo lacustra

U - FP, E. Greenhorns, Piutes, Tehachapi's

Propertius Duskywing

Erynnis propertius

C - Mtns. 1500' - 8500'

Mournful Duskywing

Erynnis tristis tristis

Oak woodland

Pacuvius Duskywing

Artful Duskywing

Erynnis pacuvius

E. p. lilius

E. p. callidus

1. S. Sierra to Piutes

2. C- Mt. Pinos

Funereal Duskywing

Erynnis funeralis

SJV, MD, Mtns. to 6000'

Persius Duskywing

Erynnis persius

R - G

Small Checkered-Skipper

Pyrgus scriptura scriptura

L -W. SJV

Common Checkered-Skipper

Pyrgus communis

R - N. SJV, KRV, Temblors

White Checkered-Skipper

Western Checkered Skipper

Pyrgus albescens

MD, KRV, SJV, foothills

Northern White-Skipper

Large White Skipper

Heliopetes ericetorum

MD, SJV, Mtns.

Common Sootywing

Pholisora catullus

L - SJV, Kelso, arid Mtns, Havilah

Mohave Sootywing

Hesperopsis libya

H. l. libya

San Joaquin Valley Mojave Sootywing

H. l. joaquina

Lena Mojave Sootywing

H. l. nr. lena

1. X - Edwards AFB

2. LC - W. SJV

3. LC - MD, Walker Pass

Saltbush Sootywing

Alpheus Sootywing

Hesperopsis alpheus oricus

R - Butterbredt, Bird Springs

15 Grass Skippers  

Subfamily Hesperiinae

Julia's Skipper 

Nastra julia

X - Bakersfield

Orange Skipperling 

MD Kelso

Fiery Skipper

Hylephila phyleus muertovalle

C- KRV SJV MD bermuda grass

Alkali Skipper

Pseudocopaeodes eunus

(Eunus Skipper)

P. e. eunus

P. e. flavus

1. KRV - saltgrass

2. MD

Juba Skipper

Hesperia juba

arid Sierra & desert Mtns. South Fork Wildlife area

Western Branded Skipper

Hesperia comma

H. c. idaho

H. c. tildeni

1. Upper KC Kelso

2. G, T, Te

Columbian Skipper

Hesperia columbia

R- scrub oak

Lindsey's Skipper

Hesperia lindseyi lindseyi

L - Lebec, T, P

Sandhill Skipper

Polites sabuleti

P. s. sabuleti

P. s. chusca

P. s. tecumseh

1. SJV KRV saltgrass

2. MD - lakes

3. G

Sonora Skipper

Polites sonora sonora

wet meadows

Sachem

 (Field Skipper)

Atalopedes campestris campestris

SJV KRV Kelso, T

Rural Skipper

Ochlodes agricola

O. a. verus

O. a. nemorum

1. R - Sierras

2. Kernville G

Woodland Skipper

Ochlodes sylvanoides sylvanoides

C - mountains, KRV

Umber Skipper

Poanes melane melane

KRV KC

Eufala Skipper

Lerodea eufala

SJV KRV desert

1 Giant-Skippers 

Subfamily Megathyminae

Yucca Giant-Skipper

Megathymus yuccae martini

Joshua Trees