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Chlosyne californica

(California Patch)

Overview

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Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Common Names in English:

California Patch, California Patch Butterfly

Description

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Family Nymphalidae

'The Nymphalidae are members of the Superfamily Papilionoidea, the true butterflies. Distributed worldwide, butterflies of this family are especially rich in the tropics. They are highly variable, and there are more species in this family than in any other. Adults vary in size from small to large, and their front legs are reduced, unable to be used for walking. Wing shape is also highly variable: some species have irregular margins (anglewings and commas), and others have long taillike projections (daggerwings). Browns, oranges, yellows, and blacks are frequent colors, while iridescent colors such as purples and blues are rare. Adults of some groups are the longest-lived butterflies, surviving 6-11 months. Adult feeding behavior depends on the species, where some groups primarily seek flower nectar while others only feed on sap flows , rotting fruit, dung, or animal carcasses. Males exhibit perching and patrolling behaviors when seeking mates. Egg-laying varies widely, as some species lay eggs in clustsers, others in columns, and others singly. Caterpillar appearance and behavior vary widely. Brushfoots overwinter as larvae or adults.

'[1]

Subfamily Nymphalinae

Brushfoots are the most prevalent members of the Family Nymphalinae. Distributed worldwide, this is a diverse group that contains several tribes , each with somewhat different structural and biological features. Adults of North American species are predominantly orange, brown, and black. Wing shape and mating systems are variable. Most checkerspots and crescentspots patrol for mates, while the remainder of groups exhibit either perching or perching and patrolling . Migration varies widely; some strong migrants are found in the lady butterflies, tortoiseshells, and anglewings, while other species are local in occurrence. Most species limit their host plants to a few species, but the Painted Lady has one of the widest host palettes of all butterflies. Eggs are laid singly or clustered in groups, and caterpillars be found feeding alone or communally. Brushfoots overwinter as young caterpillars or hibernating adults.[2]

Physical Description

Species Chlosyne californica

Upperside is black with a wide orange median band and large orange submarginal spots. Underside of hindwing has a red spot near the abdomen which blends into the median band. (ref. 105894)

Color:

Upperside is black with a wide orange median band and large orange submarginal spots. Underside of hindwing has a red spot near the abdomen which blends into the median band.

Size/Age/Growth

Wing span : 1 1/4 - 2 inches (3.2 - 5.1 cm).

Habitat

Desert washes and canyons .

Biology

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Diet

Caterpillar hosts: Desert sunflower (Viguiera deltoidea var. parishii) in the sunflower family (Asteraceae). Adult food: Flower nectar.

Reproduction

Males perch in the morning on hilltops to watch for females. Eggs are laid in groups on the underside of host plant leaves; caterpillars eat leaves. Hibernation is by third-stage caterpillars.

Behavior

Flight: Many broods from March-November.

Taxonomy

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Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Chlosyne

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 52 species and subspecies in this genus:

C. acastus (Sagebrush Checkerspot) · C. acastus neumoegeni (Neumogen's Checkerspot) · C. acastus robusta (Acastus Checkerspot) · C. californica (California Patch) · C. cyneas (Black Checkerspot) · C. definita (Definite Patch) · C. ehrenbergi (White-Rayed Patch) · C. ehrenbergii (Striped Patch) · C. endeis (Banded Patch) · C. eumeda (Eumeda Patch) · C. fulvia (Fulvia Checkerspot) · C. gabbi (Gabb's Checkerspot) · C. gabbii (Gabb's Checkerspot) · C. gabbii atrifasciata (Gabb's Checkerspot) · C. gorgone (Gorgone Checkerspot) · C. gorgone carlota (Carlota Checkerspot) · C. gorgone gorgone (Gorgone Checkerspot) · C. harrisii (Harris' Checkerspot) · C. harrisii hanhami (Harris's Checkerspot) · C. harrisii harrisii (Harris's Checkerspot) · C. hippodrome (Hippodrome Patch) · C. hoffmanni (Hoffmann's Checkerspot) · C. hoffmanni manchada (Manchada Checkerspot) · C. janais (Crimson Patch) · C. janais gloriosa (Glorious Patch) · C. lacinia (Bordered Patch) · C. lacinia saundersi (Saunders' Bordered Patch) · C. leanira (Leanira Checkerspot) · C. leanira alma (Alma Checkerspot) · C. leanira elegans (Oso Flaco Patch Checkerspot) · C. leanira flavodorsalis (Leanira Checkerspot) · C. leanira obsoleta (Leanira Checkerspot) · C. leanira oregonensis (Leanira Checkerspot) · C. marina (Red-Spotted Patch) · C. marina eumeda (Red-Spotted Patch) · C. marina melitaeoides (Yellow Patch) · C. melanarge (Cream-Banded Patch) · C. melitaeoides (Red-Spotted Patch) · C. narva (Narva Patch) · C. nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) · C. nycteis nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) · C. nycteis obsoleta (Silvery Checkerspot) · C. nycteis reversa (Silvery Checkerspot) · C. palla (Northern Checkerspot) · C. palla calydon (Calydon Checkerspot) · C. palla sterope (Palouse Checkerspot) · C. palla vallismortis (Northern Checkerspot) · C. rosita (Rosita Patch) · C. theona (Theona Checkerspot) · C. theona chinatiensis (Chinati Checkerspot) · C. whitneyi (Rockslide Checkerspot) · C. whitneyi subsp. whitneyi (Rockslide Checkerspot)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 26, 2008:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/taxonomy?f=18&sci=Nymphalidae&com=Brush-footed Butterflies [back]
  2. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Editha&search=Search [back]
Last Revised: 7/16/2012