Sagebrush Checkerspot
Chlosyne acastus (W.H. Edwards, 1874)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside is checkered black, orange-brown, and orange; hindwing has a dark wing base and a light median band. Underside of hindwing has pearly white spots.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 inches (3.9 - 5.1 cm).
Life History: Males perch and sometimes patrol in gulches for females. Eggs are laid in batches on underside of host plant leaves and sometimes on flower buds. Caterpillars eat leaves and flowers, and feed together in groups. Third- and fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate under rocks; some diapause for months and maybe years to survive bad weather.
Flight: Two broods from June-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) and aster (Machaeranthera) in the sunflower family (Asteraceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Sagebrush scrub, pinyon-juniper woodlands, dry gulches.
Range: Eastern North Dakota west to eastern Washington, south to New Mexico, southern Arizona, and eastern California.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported. Note:This butterfly includes several subspecies including neomoegeni.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 484 verified sightings
Observation date: May 06, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: McKinley County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 09, 2023
Observation date: May 06, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: McKinley County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 09, 2023
Observation date: May 06, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: McKinley County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 09, 2023
Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Sierra County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 09, 2023
Observation date: Mar 14, 2016
Submitted by: vmaglio
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 03, 2023
Observation date: Apr 16, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 09, 2023
Observation date: Apr 13, 2021
Submitted by: MEW2021
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Jan 29, 2023
Submitted by: joel151
Region: Catron County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 03, 2023
Observation date: May 01, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 28, 2023
Observation date: Apr 25, 2020
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 15, 2022
Observation date: Apr 21, 2021
Submitted by: dyshah
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Apr 21, 2021
Submitted by: dyshah
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: May 05, 2021
Submitted by: dyshah
Region: Kane County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: May 31, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Uintah County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Aug 30, 2022
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 07, 2022
Observation date: Jul 28, 2022
Submitted by: heinert
Region: Sioux County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Aug 10, 2022
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Apr 06, 2022
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 29, 2022
Observation date: Jun 19, 2022
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: Klickitat County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 27, 2022
Observation date: Jun 19, 2022
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: Klickitat County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 27, 2022
Observation date: May 21, 2022
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Yakima County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 26, 2022
Observation date: May 21, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Yakima County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 24, 2022
Observation date: May 03, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2022
Observation date: Apr 16, 2019
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 22, 2022
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