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Mountain parnassian

Eastern Washington

Mountain parnassian butterfly, Parnassius sminthius
Mountain parnassian butterfly or Parnassius sminthius

Mountain parnassian butterflies or Parnassius sminthius can be found in dry, rocky meadows of the eastern Cascades, the Okanogan highlands and Olympics -- high places with south-facing slopes where its host plant grows. This butterfly has adapted rely on stonecrop as its larval host plant. Butterflies take flight mostly in mid-summer.

Mountain parnassians have white wings with black markings and red or orange spots, and have a wingspan around 2-1/2 inches more or less. Females have transparent wings. These butterflies are close relatives to swallowtails based on their wing structure and how their larvae develop.

Mountain parnassian butterfly nectaring on stonecrop near Reecer Creek, July
Mountain parnassian butterfly - July
nectaring on stonecrop near Reecer Creek

Mountain parnassian butterfly with transparent wing margin, nectaring on its host plant, stonecrop
Mountain parnassian
nectaring on its host plant, stonecrop

Mountain parnassian - white butterfly with transparent wing margins
Mountain parnassian,
white wings with transparent margins