Euphydryas chalcedona

• Overview
• Interesting Facts
• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Overview

Interesting Facts

Common Names

Description

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

Habitat

Sagebrush flats, chaparral , desert hills , high prairie, open forest , alpine tundra .

Biology

Diet

Caterpillar hosts: Besseya, penstemon, and Indian paintbrush (Scrophulariaceae); snowberry and honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae); and plants from several other families including Boraginaceae and Rosaceae. Adult food: Flower nectar.

Reproduction

Males perch or patrol all day for females. Eggs are laid in large groups on underside of leaves of host plants . Caterpillars feed together on leaves, flowers, or bracts in a silk nest . Third- and fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate under rocks or in litter . Caterpillars in high elevations can hibernate for several years.

Behavior

Flight: One flight; April-June in California and Oregon, June-July in the north and higher elevations . Several flights from April-October in western Arizona, southern Nevada, and the Mojave Desert.

Taxonomy

Similar Species

Members of the genus Euphydryas

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 39 species and subspecies in this genus:

E. anicia (Anicia Checkerspot) · E. aurinia (Marsh Fritillary) · E. chalcedona (Chalcedon Checkerspot) · E. chalcedona anicia (Variable Checkerspot) · E. chalcedona bakeri (Chalcedon Checkerspot) · E. chalcedona chuskae (Chalcedon Checkerspot) · E. chalcedona cloudcrofti (Chalcedon Checkerspot) · E. chalcedona colon (Chalcedon Checkerspot) · E. chalcedona corralensis (Chalcedon Checkerspot) · E. chalcedona kingstonensis (Chalcedon Checkerspot) · E. chalcedona macyi (Chalcedon Checkerspot) · E. chalcedona magdalena (Chalcedon Checkerspot) · E. chalcedona morandi (Morand's Checkerspot) · E. chalcedona paradoxa (Chalcedon Checkerspot) · E. chalcedona perdiccas (Island Checkerspot) · E. chalcedona trinitina (Chalcedon Checkerspot) · E. chalcedona chalcedona (Variable Checkerspot) · E. colon (Colon Checkerspot) · E. cynthia (Cynthia's Fritillary) · E. editha (Edith's Checkerspot) · E. editha alebarki (Alebark's Checkerspot) · E. editha augusta (Augusta Checkerspot) · E. editha baroni (Baron's Checkerspot) · E. editha bayensis (Bay Checkerspot Butterfly) · E. editha bingi (Edith's Checkerspot) · E. editha ehrlichi (Edith's Checkerspot) · E. editha insularis (Island Checkerspot) · E. editha karinae (Edith's Checkerspot) · E. editha koreti (Koret's Checkerspot) · E. editha lehmani (Lehman Caves Checkerspot) · E. editha monoensis (Mono Lake Checkerspot) · E. editha quino (Quino Checkerspot; Wright's Checkerspot) · E. editha tahoensis (Edith's Checkerspot) · E. editha taylori (Taylor's Checkerspot) · E. gillettii (Gillette's Checkerspot) · E. maturna (Scarce Fritillary) · E. phaeton (Baltimore) · E. phaeton ozarkae (Baltimore Checkerspot) · E. phaeton phaeton (Baltimore Checkerspot)

More Info

• Search for Pictures: images.google.com
• Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
• Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
• Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books

Further Reading

• Bibliography (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) / Charles A. Bridges. Urbana, Ill.: C.A. Bridges, c1993. url p. 110, p. 279, p. 375.
• Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences. Los Angeles, Calif.: The Academy, 1902-1971. url , , , p. 124, p. 125, p. 29, p. 31, p. 36, p. 57, p. 58.
• Catalog of hymenoptera in America north of Mexico / prepared cooperatively by specialists on the various groups of Hymenoptera under the direction of Karl V. Krombein. .. [et al.]. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1979- url p. 249, p. 2530, p. 680.
• Entomological news. [Philadelphia]American Entomological Society, 1925- url p. 195, p. 196, p. 196, p. 293, p. 306, p. 332.
• Foraging selectivity in adult butterflies: morphological, ecological, and physiological factors affecting flower choice / by Peter Gregory May. 1985. url p. 167.
• Hymenoptera of America north of Mexico: synoptic catalog, second supplement / prepared by the staff and collaborators of the Hymenoptera Unit, Insect Identification and Parasite Introduction Research Branch, Entomology Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, under the Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1967. url p. 42.
• Occasional papers of the California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco: California Academy of Sciences, url p. 19.
• The Great Basin naturalist. 54 1994 Provo, Utah: M.L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University, 1939-1999. url p. 103, appendices c & d, page 123, p. 193, p. 338, p. 339.
• The Lepidopterists' news: the monthly newsletter of the Lepidopterists' Society. Cambridge, Mass.: Lepidopterists' Society, 1947-1958. url p. 82, p. 88.
• The University of Kansas science bulletin. 39 1958 [Lawrence]: University of Kansas, 1902-1996. url p. 313.
• Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History. 6 1930 [San Diego]: The Society, 1905-1989. url p. 14, p. 38.

Notes

Contributors

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 10, 2012.

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 12, 2007:

• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Butterflies and Skippers of Alberta Project
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Canadian National Collection
• of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Crispin S. Guppy Collection
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Donald F. Hooper Butterfly collection, Canada
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Lepidopterists Society Season Summaries 1973-1997
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Lyman Entomological Museum
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, New Brunswick Museum Collection
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Norbert Kondla Collection
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Ross A. Layberry Observations
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, University of Guelph, Department of Environmental Biology

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2603008
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 14824112
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: IILEPK4030
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 172178

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]

©2004-2012 David Stang. All rights reserved.