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Species Detail
Theona Checkerspot
Chlosyne theona (Ménétriés, 1855)
Attributes of Chlosyne theonaFamily: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) Subfamily: True Brushfoots (Nymphalinae) Identification: Upperside with dark checkered pattern. Black median stripe separates inner yellow-orange band and outer orange band. Underside of hindwing has alternating bands of orange and cream spots, all outlined in black. Life history: Males patrol and sometimes perch to find females. Eggs are laid in groups on the host plant; caterpillars feed on the leaves. Third- or fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate. Flight: Several flights from April-October in the Southwest, throughout the year in the tropics. Wing span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches (3.2 - 4.4 cm). Caterpillar hosts: Ceniza blanca (Leucophyllum texanum and L. frutescens) in Texas, paintbrush (Castilleja species) in Arizona. Adult food: Flower nectar. Habitat: Desert foothills and canyons, subtropical scrub, limestone ridges, open oak or pinyon woodlands. Range: Colombia north through Central America and Mexico to east-central Texas, southern New Mexico, and central Arizona. Conservation: Not usually of concern. NatureServe Global Status: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Management needs: None reported. Note: Subspecies chinatiensis, the Chinati Checkerspot, is considered a separate species by some, but it blends completely to more typical theona. | Documented Records for Chlosyne theona
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