Variable Checkerspot
Common NameVariable Checkerspot
Scientific NameEuphydryas chalcedona
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)50
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsblack, cream, orange
HabitatOpen woodlands, chaparral, meadows, hillsides, canyons
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from British Columbia south through California and east to parts of the Rocky Mountains
Host PlantsDiplacus, Penstemon, Castilleja
Flight PeriodApril to July
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in clusters on host plants. Larvae are gregarious, feeding on leaves and often overwintering in a communal web before pupating in the spring.
Identification TipsIdentified by its distinctive checkered pattern of dark ground color with contrasting cream/yellow and orange spots. The exact pattern and color can be highly variable across its range and subspecies, making precise identification sometimes challenging without location context.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with dark brown to black wings heavily marked with cream or yellowish spots and bands, often with additional reddish-orange spots, especially along the margins.
