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 497 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 26, 2025
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 26, 2025
Observation date: Apr 24, 2025
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 26, 2025
Observation date: Apr 18, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 09, 2024
Observation date: May 15, 2024
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: White Pine County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 07, 2024
Observation date: Apr 20, 2024
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2024
Observation date: Apr 28, 2024
Submitted by: Cassie M
Region: Montrose County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 07, 2024
Observation date: Apr 21, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Sierra County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 23, 2024
Observation date: Apr 20, 2024
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 21, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 02, 2024
Observation date: Aug 06, 2023
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Billings County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 12, 2023
Observation date: Apr 01, 2021
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Catron County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 29, 2023
Observation date: Jun 08, 2023
Submitted by: ENordin
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 03, 2023
Observation date: Mar 30, 2021
Submitted by: Beedox
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 25, 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: 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
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