Theona Checkerspot
Chlosyne theona (Ménétriés, 1855)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside with dark checkered pattern. Black median stripe separates inner yellow-orange band and outer orange band. Underside of hindwing has alternating bands of orange and cream spots, all outlined in black.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches (3.2 - 4.4 cm).
Life History: Males patrol and sometimes perch to find females. Eggs are laid in groups on the host plant; caterpillars feed on the leaves. Third- or fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: Several flights from April-October in the Southwest, throughout the year in the tropics.
Caterpillar Hosts: Ceniza blanca (Leucophyllum texanum and L. frutescens) in Texas, paintbrush (Castilleja species) in Arizona.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Desert foothills and canyons, subtropical scrub, limestone ridges, open oak or pinyon woodlands.
Range: Colombia north through Central America and Mexico to east-central Texas, southern New Mexico, and central Arizona.
Conservation: Not usually of concern.
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: Subspecies chinatiensis, the Chinati Checkerspot, is considered a separate species by some, but it blends completely to more typical theona.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 221 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 22, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 16, 2022
Observation date: Sep 23, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 07, 2022
Observation date: Aug 20, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 07, 2022
Observation date: Sep 23, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 14, 2021
Observation date: Aug 30, 2021
Submitted by: 1tom2go
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 24, 2021
Observation date: Nov 07, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Apr 02, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Brewster County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Aug 29, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 10, 2021
Observation date: Jul 31, 2019
Submitted by: Rob Wu
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 09, 2021
Observation date: Jul 31, 2018
Submitted by: Rob Wu
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 09, 2021
Observation date: Sep 08, 2012
Submitted by: cjbruchman
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 01, 2021
Observation date: May 17, 2020
Submitted by: Bob Herrmann
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 25, 2020
Observation date: Oct 11, 2019
Submitted by: Thomlinson
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 21, 2019
Observation date: Sep 25, 2019
Submitted by: Raul Delgado
Region: Texas, Webb County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 25, 2019
Observation date: Nov 18, 2018
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 07, 2019
Observation date: May 23, 2019
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 28, 2019
Observation date: May 24, 2019
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Texas, Val Verde County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 16, 2019
Observation date: May 18, 2019
Submitted by: oleoleo
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 18, 2019
Observation date: Nov 04, 2018
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 14, 2018
Observation date: Nov 27, 2018
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 11, 2018
Observation date: Nov 05, 2018
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 25, 2018
Observation date: Nov 05, 2018
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 25, 2018
Observation date: Nov 07, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 21, 2018
Observation date: Nov 04, 2018
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 20, 2018
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