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Euphydryas gillettii

(Gillette's Checkerspot)

Overview

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Threatened

Threat status

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Common Names in English:

Gillette's Checkerspot

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 Euphydryas gillettii

Upperside of both wings is dark brown with a wide orange-red submarginal band ; other spots are orange-red and white. (ref. 105940)

Color:

Upperside of both wings is dark brown with a wide orange-red submarginal band ; other spots are orange-red and white.

Size/Age/Growth

Wing span : 1 1/2 - 1 7/8 inches (3.8 - 4.8 cm).

Habitat

Open, moist conifer forests ; moist meadows; streamsides.

Biology

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Diet

Caterpillar hosts: Plants of the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae) including twin-berry honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata) and snowberry (Symphoricarpus albus); and the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae) including speedwell (Veronica wormskjoldii). Adult food: Flower nectar.

Reproduction

Adults fly slowly and roost singly in conifers. Males patrol around tops of trees or tall flowers for females. Eggs are laid in batches on undersides of sunlit leaves so that the warmth helps the eggs develop faster. Young caterpillars live together in a silk nest , feeding on leaves and leaf buds . At low elevations , fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate. Populations at higher elevations require two years to complete development; during the first winter, young caterpillars hibernate after feeding for two weeks; during the second winter, fifth-stage caterpillars hibernate.

Behavior

Flight: One brood from June-August.

Taxonomy

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Similar Species

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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

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 12, 2007:

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