California Patch
Chlosyne californica (W.G. Wright, 1905)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside is black with a wide orange median band and large orange submarginal spots. Underside of hindwing has a red spot near the abdomen which blends into the median band.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 2 inches (3.2 - 5.1 cm).
Life History: Males perch in the morning on hilltops to watch for females. Eggs are laid in groups on the underside of host plant leaves; caterpillars eat leaves. Hibernation is by third-stage caterpillars.
Flight: Many broods from March-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Desert sunflower (Viguiera deltoidea var. parishii) in the sunflower family (Asteraceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Desert washes and canyons.
Range: Southern Nevada south to southwestern Arizona, southeastern California; Baja California and Sonora, Mexico.
Conservation: Not thought to be necessary.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 172 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 03, 1989
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 14, 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: Apr 20, 2024
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: Oct 17, 2023
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 24, 2023
Observation date: Oct 08, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Oct 08, 2023
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 16, 2023
Observation date: Oct 10, 2023
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2023
Observation date: Sep 07, 2023
Submitted by: camflies
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 22, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 06, 2023
Submitted by: ButterflyMama911
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 12, 2023
Observation date: Apr 24, 2023
Submitted by: plawryniuk
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 22, 2023
Observation date: May 10, 2023
Submitted by: ykarant
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 22, 2023
Observation date: May 14, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 15, 2023
Observation date: May 03, 2023
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 11, 2023
Observation date: Apr 23, 2023
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 11, 2023
Observation date: May 07, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 07, 2023
Observation date: Sep 05, 2022
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 07, 2023
Observation date: May 04, 2023
Submitted by: denbull
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 05, 2023
Observation date: Apr 09, 2023
Submitted by: Doug Backlund
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 20, 2021
Submitted by: Kenneth Cox
Region: Catron County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 16, 2023
Observation date: Oct 12, 2022
Submitted by: plawryniuk
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 23, 2022
Observation date: Oct 15, 2022
Submitted by: DannyboyKS
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 23, 2022
Observation date: Oct 21, 2022
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 22, 2022
Observation date: Oct 01, 2022
Submitted by: katkramer
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 01, 2022
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