Whirling and basking

  

We had to do some work in northern Sonoma County today (24 April 2022).  While walking the trail we noticed several Western Pine Elfin butterflies (Callophrys eryphon) whirling around near a few pine trees.  Eric captured this beautiful view of an elfin basking in the sun.

Magical mosaic

Here's a mystery close-up photo to start your day:

 

And another (from the same animal):

 

Did you guess a close-up of a butterfly wing?

That's correct!  

Now, which species of butterfly? 

 

Western Pine Elfin (Callophrys eryphon), photographed near Salt Point on 1 June 2018.

Here's one more close-up, showing more of those amazing scales around the eye, near the legs, and at the base of the wings:

 

Happy June!

 

Like a fine Oriental rug

During a quick walk through the Bodega Dunes campground this afternoon, I was pleasantly surprised to see this little butterfly flutter down on to the sunlit vegetation in front of me.  I only managed a few distant photos before it took off again, but here's one for the record:

 

This is a Western Pine Elfin (Incisalia eryphon).  In A Field Guide to Butterflies of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley Regions, Art Shapiro and Tim Manolis describe the pattern on the underside of the hindwing as "reminiscent of a fine Oriental rug."

It's too bad these butterflies are on the small side — with a wingspan of about 1 inch (2.5 cm) across.  Otherwise, I think they'd get a lot more attention.  Next time you see a brownish butterfly land near a pine, you might want to take a closer look!

Western Pine Elfins are spring fliers.  Watch for them between March and June.