Mylitta crescent ~ 07/25/14 ~ Sierra Valley

female Mylitta crescent nectaring on Canada thistle

female Phyciodes mylitta mylitta nectaring on Cirsium arvense

Asteraceae

Note the stronger contrast of the female underside (ventral) markings compared to the male Mylitta crescent.  The same can be said above (dorsal), too - see below.

female (brighter, ~middle of pic), male (more solid in color and at the bottom of the pic)
Mylitta crescent

Phyciodes mylitta mylitta

ox-eyed satyr ~ 07/25/14 ~ Sierra Valley

female ox-eyed satyr nectaring on Canada thistle

female Cercyonis pegala boopis nectaring on Cirsium arvense 

Asteraceae

Like so many of Art's Sierra Nevada butterflies, I would have never gotten this ID without his patient help.  This ox-eyed satyr is one of at least 25 subspecies of the common wood-nymph!  Here I am just trying to figure out the difference between the common and the Great Basin wood-nymph (Cercyonis sthenele).  Gah!  Additional posts to come...