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Fritillary species are difficult to differentiate.  This is probably a recent hatch of butterflies nectaring on Butterweed “Senecio serra”.  Photo:   In the Malheur Mts. West of Seneca, Or   8/01/2007

Seven Spotted LadyBird Beetle “Coccinella septempunctata”.  In Germany they are called the Lady-beetles of the Virgin Mary” and they help to control grapevine pests.  This one has seven spots and it is native to Europe.  They are many different species of lady bugs.  Some of them have no spots and there are others that have twenty.  Our common native lady-bug has nine spots but their numbers are on the decline.  Photo:  Mt Emily near La Grande, OR 7/13/2006

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Field Crescent “Phyciodes pulchellus”  (Wingspan 1.5″) on what is probably a Philadelphia Daisy. “Erigeron philadelphicus” Aster Family (Asteraceae) plant 1-4′ tall, Disk flowers yellow with 150 or more white or pinkish ray flowers  Blooms in summer in moist meadows or woods in Or & Wa, Photo:  Hog Creek in Grant County, Or 7/14/2006

Musk Thistle “Carduus nutans”  Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) Biennial, plant is a basal rosette approx 2 feet in diameter the first year and 2-6 feet tall the second.  Flower are bright purple, 1-3″ in diameter and the solitary heads are often nodding.  Blooms in summer in disturbed soil in Eastern Or & Wa. Introduced from Europe around 1850 and it is listed as a noxious weed.  The butterfly is a Fritillary but a view of the underside of the wing is needed to identify the species.  Photo:  Near Hog Creek in Grant County, Or  7/14/2006

Showy Milkweed “Asclepias speciosa”  Milkweed Family (Asclepiadaceae)  Perennial, Plant 1-4′ tall, flowers pinkish-purple.  Blooms summer in dry open areas throughout Or and Eastern Wa. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on this plant but many varieties enjoy the nectar.  The butterfly is a Pale Swallowtail “Papillio eurymedon”.    Photo:  Near Hog Creek, Grant County, Or  7/14/2006

Common Yarrow “Achillea millefolium” Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) Perennial, plant 6-24″ tall with feathery, aromatic leaves. Usually 5 white ray flowers surround clusters of 10-30 white disk flowers. Blooms all summer in variable habitats throughout Or and Wa. The blue butterflies are probably Silvery Blues “Glaucopsyche lygdamus” and they are identified by the pattern of dots visible only when the wings are folded. Photo: Near Elgin, OR. 6/29/2004.

Juniper Hairstreak “Mitoura grynea” Wingspan 7/8 to 1″ The brown-violet area on the hind wing. Also called Cedar Hairstreak and the butterflies lay their eggs on cedars and junipers in both Eastern and Western Oregon and the caterpillars are green and white. Photo: Steens Mt in S.E. Oregon on 7/5/2009 P.S.; Not my finger.

Monarch “Danaus plexippus”  Wingspan 3.5 – 3.75″.  This might look like just another butterfly to you but it is my first Monarch!  The colors are somewhat muted because it has been immobilized in a glassine envelope and was eventually released.  The conspicuous white dots on the body allow the birds to recognize this butterfly.  Their caterpillars hatch on milkweed and eating the leaves of that plant causes the butterfly to be toxic to birds.   Photo:  Roaring Springs just south of French Glen in S.E. OR 7/05/2009

Male Whitetail Dragonfly “Libellula lydia”.  Males have  bluish-white body and wings with a dark patch at the base and a dark band across the middle. Females have a a brown body and wings with a brown patch at the base, middle and tip.  Compound eyes with as many as 30,000 separate receptors each of which is a separate light sensing organ.  Dragonflies are said to be the world’s fastest insects and they can reach speeds of 20-35 mph.  Photo:  Krumbo Reservoir, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, OR  7/03/2009

Narrow Winged Damsel Fly.    Photo:  Krumbo Reservoir in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge South of Burns, Or   7/04/2009