Phyciodes orseis

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

Overview

Vulnerable

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

Mountain valleys, meadows, stream canyons . (ref. 105921)

Biology

Diet

Caterpillar hosts: Thistles (Cirsium species) in the sunflower family . (ref. 105921)

Adult food: Flower nectar. (ref. 105921)

Taxonomy

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Similar Species

Members of the genus Phyciodes

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 37 species and subspecies in this genus:

P. argentea (Chestnut Crescent) · P. batesii (Tawny Crescent) · P. batesii anasazi (Canyon Crescent) · P. batesii batesii (Tawny Crescent) · P. batesii lakota (Lakota Crescent) · P. batesii maconensis (Appalachian Crescent) · P. cocyta (Northern Crescent) · P. cocyta arenacolor (Steptoe Valley Checkerspot) · P. frisia (Cuban Crescent) · P. graphica (Graphic Crescent) · P. graphica vesta (Vesta Crescent) · P. incognitus (Mimic Crescent) · P. mylitta (Mylitta Crescent) · P. mylitta mexicana (Mylitta Crescent) · P. orseis (California Crescent) · P. orseis herlani (Orseis Crescent) · P. orseis orseis (Orseis Crescent) · P. pallescens (Mexican Crescent) · P. pallida (Pale Crescent) · P. pallida barnesi (Barnes' Crescent) · P. pallidus (Pallid Crescentspot) · P. phaon (Phaon Crescent) · P. picta (Painted Crescent) · P. picta canace (Painted Crescent) · P. pratensis (Field Crescent) · P. pulchella (Field Crescent) · P. pulchella camillus (Camillus Crescent) · P. pulchella pulchella (Field Crescent) · P. pulchella shoshoni (Field Crescent) · P. pulchella totchone (Field Crescent) · P. texana (Texan Crescent) · P. tharos (Arctic White) · P. tharos arctica (Pearl Crescent) · P. tharos riocolorado (Northern Pearl Crescent) · P. tharos tharos (Pearl Crescent) · P. tulcis (Pale-Banded Crescent) · P. vesta (Vesta Crescent)

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

• A manual of North American butterflies by Charles J. Maynard. Boston: De Wolfe, Fiske, 1891. url .
• Bibliography (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) / Charles A. Bridges. Urbana, Ill.: C.A. Bridges, c1993. url p. 374.
• Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). London: BM(NH) url p. 179, p. 197, p. 85, p. 87, p. 90.
• Entomological news. [Philadelphia]American Entomological Society, 1925- url p. 135.
• Occasional papers of the California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco: California Academy of Sciences, url p. 23.
• The Macrolepidoptera of the world; a systematic description of the hitherto known Macrolepidoptera, ed. in collaboration with well-known specialists. Stuttgart: Seitz'schen (Kernen), 1906- url p. 436.
• The butterfly book a popular guide to a knowledge of the butterflies of North America / by W.J. Holland. Toronto: W. Briggs, 1898. url .
• The butterfly book: a popular guide to a knowledge of the butterflies of North America / by W.J. Holland. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1910. url p. 154, p. 155.
• The butterfly book; a popular guide to a knowledge of the butterflies of North America. With 48 plates in color-photography, reproductions of butterflies in the author's collection, and many text illustrations presenting 1922 Garden City, N.Y., Doubleday, Page, 1922 [c1898] url p. 154, p. 155, explanation of plate XVII.

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 06, 2007:

• Avian Knowledge Network, Hawk Migration Association of North America - HawkCount
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity - Fish Collection
• Museum of Southwestern Biology, Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, Museum of Southwestern Biology, Division of Amphibians and Reptiles database

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2631024
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Lep-156562.0
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: IILEPK3070
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 171750

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.