Attributes of Euphydryas chalcedona

Chalcedon Checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona (Doubleday, [1847])

Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Extremely variable. Forewing narrow. Upperside is black to dark orange-brown with yellow, red, and sometimes white spots. Underside with yellow and orange-red bands.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 2 1/4 inches (3.2 - 5.7 cm).
Life History: Males perch or patrol all day for females. Eggs are laid in large groups on underside of leaves of host plants. Caterpillars feed together on leaves, flowers, or bracts in a silk nest. Third- and fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate under rocks or in litter. Caterpillars in high elevations can hibernate for several years.
Flight: One flight; April-June in California and Oregon, June-July in the north and higher elevations. Several flights from April-October in western Arizona, southern Nevada, and the Mojave Desert.
Caterpillar Hosts: Besseya, penstemon, and Indian paintbrush (Scrophulariaceae); snowberry and honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae); and plants from several other families including Boraginaceae and Rosaceae.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Sagebrush flats, chaparral, desert hills, high prairie, open forest, alpine tundra.
Range: Alaska south along the Pacific Coast through California and Arizona to Baja California and Mexico; east to Montana, the Dakotas, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico.
Conservation: Some subspecies and unnamed populations may require monitoring, management, or preservation.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Maintain habitat integrity, host plant colonies, and nectar sources. Note: This species used to include these additional separate species Euphydryas anicia, E. chalcedona, and E. colon.
Taxonomy Notes:

Images of Euphydryas chalcedona

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Euphydryas chalcedona - euphydryas_chalcedona_kingstonensis_caterpillar6_raisingbutterflies.jpg

Euphydryas chalcedona - euphydryas_chalcedona_kingstonensis_caterpillar6_raisingbutterflies.jpg
Euphydryas chalcedona - euphydryas_chalcedona_kingstonensis_caterpillar2_raisingbutterflies.jpg

Euphydryas chalcedona - euphydryas_chalcedona_kingstonensis_caterpillar2_raisingbutterflies.jpg
Euphydryas chalcedona - euphydryas_chalcedona_kingstonensis_caterpillar3_raisingbutterflies.jpg

Euphydryas chalcedona - euphydryas_chalcedona_kingstonensis_caterpillar3_raisingbutterflies.jpg
Euphydryas chalcedona - IMG_7040.jpg

Euphydryas chalcedona - IMG_7040.jpg
Euphydryas chalcedona - Euphydryas_chalcedonaRiedel.jpg

Euphydryas chalcedona - Euphydryas_chalcedonaRiedel.jpg



The map below displays all verified sighting records in the BAMONA database for this species. Each record is indicated with a yellow dot. The orange dots on the map provide access to information about the 400 most recently verified sightings of this species. In some instances, there are several records at the same location. Use the table view to access these records.

Instructions: Click on the map and move your mouse to pan.
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By default, the fifty most recently verified sightings are below. Sort by Observation Date to see the most recent sightings, or filter the sightings by region to get a regional list.

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Observation Date Submitter Region Verified Datesort icon
May 27, 2013 shakespearenut Los Angeles County, California, United States May 28, 2013 Details
April 18, 2013 wimvdam Santa Barbara County, California, United States May 15, 2013 Details
May 15, 2009 Jamie Chavez Santa Barbara County, California, United States May 05, 2013 Details
April 26, 2013 Jamie Chavez Santa Barbara County, California, United States May 05, 2013 Details
April 10, 2013 MAKI Santa Barbara County, California, United States May 02, 2013 Details
April 28, 2013 vmcintee Contra Costa County, California, United States April 29, 2013 Details
April 20, 2013 kahunamcginty Alameda County, California, United States April 29, 2013 Details
July 10, 1982 legacy.reporter (K Hansen-S. Mattoon) Elko County, Nevada, United States December 01, 2012 Details
July 10, 1982 legacy.reporter (K Hansen-S. Mattoon) Elko County, Nevada, United States December 01, 2012 Details
June 29, 1987 legacy.reporter (George T. Austin) Humboldt County, Nevada, United States December 01, 2012 Details
July 11, 1995 legacy.reporter (Robert L. Langston) Douglas County, Nevada, United States December 01, 2012 Details
July 10, 1995 legacy.reporter (Robert L. Langston) Storey County, Nevada, United States December 01, 2012 Details
April 14, 1999 legacy.reporter (Ray Stanford) Navajo County, Arizona, United States December 01, 2012 Details
March 14, 2004 legacy.reporter (Mark Walker) Maricopa County, Arizona, United States December 01, 2012 Details
June 11, 2008 mojoedevine Alameda County, California, United States August 22, 2012 Details
May 28, 2012 shakespearenut Los Angeles County, California, United States May 30, 2012 Details
May 21, 2012 evilrobot42 Santa Clara County, California, United States May 27, 2012 Details
May 27, 2012 Whitedolphinstar Los Angeles County, California, United States May 27, 2012 Details
May 23, 2012 Cabngirl Sonoma County, California, United States May 25, 2012 Details
April 27, 2012 cpohlson Fresno County, California, United States May 03, 2012 Details
March 11, 2012 AKimages San Diego County, California, United States March 20, 2012 Details
May 28, 2012 legacy.reporter (Ray Bruun) Nevada, United States January 01, 2012 Details
July 08, 1978 legacy.reporter (George T. Austin) Elko County, Nevada, United States January 01, 2012 Details
March 21, 1976 legacy.reporter (Ken Hansen) Mohave County, Arizona, United States January 01, 2012 Details
July 04, 1980 legacy.reporter (George T. Austin) Elko County, Nevada, United States January 01, 2012 Details
August 19, 1979 legacy.reporter (George T. Austin) Clark County, Nevada, United States January 01, 2012 Details
April 15, 1978 legacy.reporter (George T. Austin) Clark County, Nevada, United States January 01, 2012 Details
April 08, 1977 legacy.reporter (C. S. Lawson) Clark County, Nevada, United States January 01, 2012 Details
April 15, 1978 legacy.reporter (George T. Austin) Clark County, Nevada, United States January 01, 2012 Details
May 03, 1978 legacy.reporter (George T. Austin) Clark County, Nevada, United States January 01, 2012 Details
April 12, 1978 legacy.reporter (unknown) Clark County, Nevada, United States January 01, 2012 Details
April 15, 1978 legacy.reporter (George T. Austin) Clark County, Nevada, United States January 01, 2012 Details
April 20, 1978 legacy.reporter (George T. Austin) Clark County, Nevada, United States January 01, 2012 Details
April 22, 1979 legacy.reporter (George T. Austin) Clark County, Nevada, United States January 01, 2012 Details
May 12, 1978 legacy.reporter (George T. Austin) Clark County, Nevada, United States January 01, 2012 Details
March 11, 2011 RaisingButterflies.org Clark County, Nevada, United States October 19, 2011 Details
April 25, 2010 RaisingButterflies.org Mohave County, Arizona, United States October 19, 2011 Details
July 22, 2011 ABroadwell San Mateo County, California, United States July 29, 2011 Details
June 05, 2011 scheidr Los Angeles County, California, United States July 08, 2011 Details
July 02, 2011 Alamaden Santa Clara County, California, United States July 04, 2011 Details
June 09, 2010 FeatherBirdLady Mendocino County, California, United States June 08, 2011 Details
May 30, 2011 lizlotz Sonoma County, California, United States June 06, 2011 Details
May 26, 1979 legacy.reporter (Jim Brock) Mono County, California, United States May 01, 2011 Details
June 09, 1988 legacy.reporter (Jim Brock) Amador County, California, United States May 01, 2011 Details
March 29, 1969 legacy.reporter (John & Tom Emmel) San Bernardino County, California, United States May 01, 2011 Details
April 14, 1977 legacy.reporter (unknown) San Diego County, California, United States May 01, 2011 Details
June 19, 1957 legacy.reporter (unknown) Los Angeles County, California, United States May 01, 2011 Details
July 07, 1944 legacy.reporter (unknown) Calaveras County, California, United States May 01, 2011 Details
July 30, 1963 legacy.reporter (unknown) El Dorado County, California, United States May 01, 2011 Details
July 03, 1950 legacy.reporter (unknown) Fresno County, California, United States May 01, 2011 Details