Colorado hairstreak
Near the end of their life cycle, a large group of these butterflies were motionless and seemingly resting/floating. They make a single flight in late summer. Gambel's oak (leaves not present above) represent apparently an important food source for this butterfly.
The undersides were not seen, but the butterfly appears to be a good match for Hypaurotis crysalus.
The white flower that one of the butterfly's antennae is traversing and the structure below that at the end appears to be long to a species of Stuckenia (syn. Potamogeton), i.e. pondweed) along with some of the drifting white floral parts. It seems to be mostly covered by filamentous algae obscuring details of the stem/leaves.
September 11, 2015, Millcreek Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah, elev. 6040 ft.
Colorado hairstreak
Near the end of their life cycle, a large group of these butterflies were motionless and seemingly resting/floating. They make a single flight in late summer. Gambel's oak (leaves not present above) represent apparently an important food source for this butterfly.
The undersides were not seen, but the butterfly appears to be a good match for Hypaurotis crysalus.
The white flower that one of the butterfly's antennae is traversing and the structure below that at the end appears to be long to a species of Stuckenia (syn. Potamogeton), i.e. pondweed) along with some of the drifting white floral parts. It seems to be mostly covered by filamentous algae obscuring details of the stem/leaves.
September 11, 2015, Millcreek Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah, elev. 6040 ft.