Snowberry Checkerspot
Common NameSnowberry Checkerspot
Scientific NameEuphydryas editha
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)45
Primary Colorsblack, orange, cream
HabitatOpen woodlands, meadows, grasslands, chaparral, sagebrush steppe, subalpine slopes
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from British Columbia south to Baja California, and east to Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico
Host PlantsSymphoricarpos, Penstemon, Plantago, Castilleja, Collinsia
Flight PeriodLate April to early August
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on host plants, often overwinter as partially grown caterpillars, pupate in spring, and adults emerge in late spring to early summer, typically with one brood per year.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its intricate checkered pattern of black, orange, and cream spots. The specific arrangement of these spots, especially on the underside, and its association with host plants like snowberry, help differentiate it from other *Euphydryas* species.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with a complex checkered pattern of black, orange-red, and cream-white spots across its wings, with a dark body.
