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.
Comments: NULL
Pollinator Week is June 20-26, 2022!
Butterflies and moths are accidental pollinators of many flowering plants. While most species do not have special structures to carry pollen, they do brush against pollen and transfer it to other flowers.
Did you know? The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) flies close to the ground and uses its short proboscis to probe flowers of wild strawberry, white sweet clover, and other low-lying plants.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 464 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 07, 2015
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 23, 2018
Observation date: Jun 16, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2018
Observation date: Jun 01, 2017
Submitted by: Wendy McCrady
Region: Custer County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jun 19, 2018
Observation date: May 22, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Yakima County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 25, 2018
Observation date: May 07, 2018
Submitted by: kwosilait
Region: Yakima County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 15, 2018
Observation date: Jun 01, 2017
Submitted by: Kristie Nelson
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 05, 2018
Observation date: Apr 30, 2018
Submitted by: Kristie Nelson
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 05, 2018
Observation date: Apr 16, 2018
Submitted by: John Koerner
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 22, 2018
Observation date: Mar 31, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 02, 2018
Observation date: Jun 01, 2017
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 31, 2017
Observation date: May 23, 2017
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Yakima County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 06, 2017
Observation date: May 23, 2017
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Yakima County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 06, 2017
Observation date: Apr 08, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 11, 2017
Observation date: Apr 09, 2017
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 09, 2017
Observation date: Mar 09, 2017
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 16, 2017
Observation date: Mar 09, 2016
Submitted by: JoseBonner
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 27, 2016
Observation date: Jun 05, 2016
Submitted by: Kristie Nelson
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 08, 2016
Observation date: May 07, 2016
Submitted by: silversea_starsong
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 09, 2016
Observation date: Apr 19, 2016
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 26, 2016
Observation date: Mar 27, 2016
Submitted by: OhioHick
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 06, 2016
Observation date: Apr 05, 2016
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 06, 2016
Observation date: Nov 28, 2015
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 09, 2015
Observation date: Jun 09, 2015
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Big Horn County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 07, 2015
Observation date: May 30, 2012
Submitted by: carlakish
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 24, 2015
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