Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Leanira Checkerspot
Chlosyne leanira (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1860)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Quite variable. Upperside ranges from black to orange, with light spots. Underside of hindwing is cream-colored with black veins; wide black median band surrounds cream-colored spots.
Wing Span: 1 3/8 - 1 3/4 inches (3.5 - 4.5 cm).
Life History: Males perch and sometimes patrol on hilltops for females. Eggs are laid in bunches on underside of lower leaves of host plant. Caterpillars feed on leaves and flowers; young ones live together in a loose web. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One flight from April-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Paintbrush (Castilleja species).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open prairies, canyons, desert hills, foothills, washes, roadcuts.
Range: Local, in scattered populations. Western Oregon south to California, Nevada, Utah, and western Colorado; Baja California.
Conservation: Colonies in California have probably declined due to invasion of exotic grasses and resultant increased fire frequency.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL

Verified Sightings

Displaying 1 - 24 of 375 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 16, 2019
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 21, 2023
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Observation date: May 07, 2019
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 15, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Oct 19, 2022
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 21, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Jun 01, 2022
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 29, 2022
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Observation date: Jun 01, 2022
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 29, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Jun 14, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 14, 2021
  Details
Observation date: Apr 28, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 15, 2021
  Details
Observation date: Jun 15, 2021
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 16, 2021
  Details
Observation date: May 28, 2021
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 30, 2021
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Observation date: May 08, 2021
Submitted by: jhintermeister
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 17, 2021
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Observation date: May 01, 2021
Submitted by: dkaralun
Region: California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2021
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Observation date: Apr 18, 2021
Submitted by: dkaralun
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 21, 2021
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Observation date: Apr 24, 2020
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 06, 2020
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Observation date: May 31, 2019
Submitted by: StevebrownLepid
Region: Mesa County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 19, 2019
  Details
Observation date: Jun 30, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2019
  Details
Observation date: May 23, 2019
Submitted by: Scott Burgess
Region: Trinity County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2019
  Details
Observation date: May 25, 2019
Submitted by: Team Kweeper
Region: Placer County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 26, 2019
  Details
Observation date: Jul 01, 2018
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 02, 2018
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Observation date: May 31, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 01, 2018
  Details
Observation date: May 31, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 01, 2018
  Details
Observation date: May 31, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 01, 2018
  Details
Observation date: Mar 28, 2017
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 25, 2017
  Details
Observation date: Mar 28, 2017
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 25, 2017
  Details
Observation date: Jun 01, 2017
Submitted by: Nancy Asquith
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 21, 2017
  Details