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Project Noah Nature School
Speyeria sp.
The trail to the Rocky Mountain Falls.
Yes, I agreed we need local help. The spotting was near the border of New Mexico, so anybody in that area could help too. I just do not have enough markers from the photo and like you each has some things that are right, but not all. Maybe if no help comes we will have to settle for a general ID. Nice butterfly photo though.
This is a tough one. Each similar species seems to be variable. Hesperis, callippe, and aphrodite seem to be the closest matches. Hopefully someone from the CO area will chime in with a suggestion.
I am looking at Speyeria mormonia - Mormon Fritillary as a better fit, but there are variations of those and have not checked the range or location in Colorado.
Here is what I am looking at in Bugguide; http://bugguide.net/node/view/37879/bgim...
This was my problem with the Hesperis call was in Bugguide and other photos the dots on the margin of the forewing appear to gradually get bigger and this photo has them fairly even. Also could not convince myself that the hindwing lines were as sharply defined as in this photo. Here is the link to the butterflies I was looking at; http://bugguide.net/node/view/238949 Maybe just my eyes.
That was one of the choices. I was using this website to see the kinds of Fritillary butterflies in Colorado. It has several of the one you mentioned
http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/colorado_...
Sorry you have several varieties in your area and from what I can see it could be a couple of choices. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can help you. I have put the genus I think it is in for you as a suggestion.
This is not a Monarch, but a Fritillary; possibly a greater - - I need to research and compare to the ones you have in Colorado to be specific.
Spotted on Jul 4, 2012
Submitted on Jul 5, 2012
