Edith's Checkerspot
Common NameEdith's Checkerspot
Scientific NameEuphydryas editha
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsblack, orange, white
HabitatOpen meadows, grasslands, sagebrush steppe, subalpine slopes, and forest clearings.
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from British Columbia south to California and east to the Rocky Mountains.
Host PlantsPenstemon, Castilleja, Collinsia, Plantago
Flight PeriodMay to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in clusters on host plants. Larvae feed on leaves, often undergoing diapause (a period of suspended development) before pupating. Adults emerge in late spring to summer.
Identification TipsLook for the characteristic checkerboard pattern of orange, white, and black spots on the upperside of the wings. The specific arrangement and color intensity can vary by subspecies.
Description
This butterfly has dark wings with a distinctive checkerboard pattern of orange, white, and black spots. The body is dark and somewhat hairy, and the antennae are clubbed.
