Butterfly Guide

Butterfly Identification Guide

Skippers

Hesperiidae: Small to medium-sized with large muscular bodies relative to wing size and rather broad heads. The common name refers to the mode of flight and they sometimes engage in dazzling aerobatics.

Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks

Lycaenidae: The largest family, these are small to medium sized with fragile-looking wings. Males have moderately reduced forelegs and the base of the antenna is adjacent to the compound eye.

Brushfoots

Nymphalidae: A very large family with subfamilies which are diverse in appearance and biology which argues for them to be families on their own. The common name refers to forelegs which are reduced and brushlike.

Swallowtails

Papilionidae: One of the most thoroughly studied families. Contains many of the most spectacular and charismatic butterflies.

Whites and Sulfurs

Pieridae: Our butterflies are mostly medium-sized and colored white, yellow or orange with black markings.

Metalmark

Riodinidae: Closely related to Lycaenidae, the common name refers to brilliant metallic markings.

Our concepts of relationships between and within these families, although based upon phylogenetic* knowledge, continue to evolve rapidly especially influenced by molecular evidence.

*Phylogenetics - How recently did two species share a common ancestor using observable traits and molecular science genetics.

Quicklinks

Butterflies A - Z

Butterfly Checklist (PDF)

Over 60 species of butterflies are known to live on Mount Diablo, which is almost 50 percent of all known species in the San Francisco Bay Area. When looking for butterflies, choose a sunny day with a temperature above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, generally between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Very few butterflies fly when it is cool, foggy, or rainy. Binoculars that can focus 10 feet or closer are very useful.

In keeping with the California State Parks mission statement, butterflies and their habitat are protected, and collecting of butterflies is strictly prohibited in Mount Diablo State Park.

MDIA welcomes input on sightings or other information that you may wish to contribute. Please contact MDIA at info@mdia.org.