The Best of the west: The California Dogface
Sept 22, 2019 5:10:49 GMT
nomad, deliasfanatic, and 3 more like this
Post by trehopr1 on Sept 22, 2019 5:10:49 GMT
The California Dogface butterfly (Zerene eurydice) is a species endemic to California. It was designated California official State Insect in 1972. It is a sexually dimorphic butterfly with both sexes really bearing no resemblance to one another --- except perhaps for the general wing shape overall (forewings somewhat falcate with hindwings rounded and broad).
Males of the species are particularly spectacular and varied in their coloration. If you are at all familiar with the flowers called "Pansies" which are the garden flowers of "bold colors" and "smiling faces"; then this butterfly is surely reminiscent of that said flower. In a way a "flying Pansy"....
The forewings of coarse have a "dog face" or "poodle face" profile with the MOST incredible and varying amounts of Pink and suffused Purple tones present in any North American butterfly of the western U.S.; and nicely margined out in black to boot. Hindwings are a combination of orange over-laying a yellow base with a defined orange spot somewhat centered. Females, well you will see in my photo....
Anyway, below is a picture of the pair which I have; acquired some 10 years ago from a Western butterfly collection which I "curry-combed" over. There were 4 male specimens present of which this one I purchased was the "powerhouse" of the lot. What can I say....spectacular.
Males of the species are particularly spectacular and varied in their coloration. If you are at all familiar with the flowers called "Pansies" which are the garden flowers of "bold colors" and "smiling faces"; then this butterfly is surely reminiscent of that said flower. In a way a "flying Pansy"....
The forewings of coarse have a "dog face" or "poodle face" profile with the MOST incredible and varying amounts of Pink and suffused Purple tones present in any North American butterfly of the western U.S.; and nicely margined out in black to boot. Hindwings are a combination of orange over-laying a yellow base with a defined orange spot somewhat centered. Females, well you will see in my photo....
Anyway, below is a picture of the pair which I have; acquired some 10 years ago from a Western butterfly collection which I "curry-combed" over. There were 4 male specimens present of which this one I purchased was the "powerhouse" of the lot. What can I say....spectacular.
