I can identify most of the large butterflies here in Northern Virginia, but the tiny ones continue to confound me. This past weekend I was able to get some shots of some tiny beauties with my macro lens, but I am not really confident in my identification of any of them.
The first image, I think, may be an Eastern Tailed-blue butterfly (Blue Everes comyntas) or it could be some kind of hairstreak butterfly. The second one looks to be a sulphur, but I can’t decide if it is clouded, cloudless, or some other kind of sulphur butterfly. As for the final shot, I don’t even have a guess.
Despite my confusion about identification, I can’t help but be overwhelmed by the delicate beauty of this tiny creatures.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
I’ve never seen anything like that last little beauty. It’s absolutely elegant. The patterns in the wing border remind me of old-fashioned inlay work in furniture.
The yellow and white ones seem more familiar, but I don’t remember seeing those little orange patches on our white ones. The variety in details among butterflies amazes me.
So many butterflies look so similar that it’s easy to get confused in identification and, as you know, it’s just as hard with some species of birds. I’m getting better with identifying common species, but when I see something different, it gets really tough, despite all of the resources that I have available at home and on line.
Great shots as usual, Mike, and you’ve captured the details to help identify them. You’re right about that Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas); the yellow one is a Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa) with those two tiny black dots at the base of the wing; and the last one is a male Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) – usually only seen from the top, the underside helps to identify it and it’s the most likely for your area. Thanks for posting!
Thanks so much, Joe, for identifying my tiny butterflies. I was hoping that you would comment, since you are the most experienced butterfly watcher that I know. I’m a little disappointed that I couldn’t identify a Pearl Crescent–when the wings are open I can identify them, but somehow the side view really confused me.
Beautiful!
Thanks, Nat.
You’re welcome!
Beautifully done.
Thanks, Sue.