Wyoming Butterfly

As I drove past the Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus), a common native plant of the western United States, I saw it was covered with these medium sized orange-brown butterflies.

Silver Bordered Fritillary on Rabbitbrush
Silver Bordered Fritillary on Rabbitbrush

First we had to remember how to tell a butterfly from a moth. The overlapping wings and bulb ended antennae are indicative of butterflies, along with the way the insects rest with the wings open or erect. A quick check in Butterflies and Moths: A  Golden Guide Book, leads me to call this one Silver Bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene).Native Butterfly on Native Plant

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