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 97 - 120 of 224 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 09, 2015
Submitted by: KristyBaker
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 06, 2015
Observation date: Apr 15, 2015
Submitted by: mbowling
Region: Texas, Presidio County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 16, 2015
Observation date: Nov 19, 2014
Submitted by: mbowling
Region: Texas, Val Verde County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 03, 2014
Observation date: Sep 03, 2013
Submitted by: JKHatfield
Region: Texas, Lubbock County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 04, 2013
Observation date: Jul 14, 2013
Submitted by: mgrosselet
Region: Veracruz-Llave, Mexico
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Aug 27, 2013
Observation date: Jun 03, 2013
Submitted by: dspicer
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 18, 2013
Observation date: Sep 04, 2008
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Yucatan, Mexico
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: May 03, 2013
Observation date: Mar 17, 2013
Submitted by: Ellen
Region: Coryell County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 19, 2013
Observation date: Feb 16, 2013
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Feb 19, 2013
Observation date: Jun 14, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 10, 1990
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (B & L Padelford)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 14, 1993
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 04, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael Smith)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Sep 09, 2012
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 23, 2012
Observation date: May 02, 2012
Submitted by: Meganrene88
Region: Texas, Val Verde County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Aug 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 24, 2012
Submitted by: whbauer
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Jun 19, 2012
Observation date: Jun 13, 2012
Submitted by: John van Dort
Region: Francisco Morazán, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Jun 14, 2012
Observation date: Sep 05, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J Brock & J Mori)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 07, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Floyd Preston)
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 05, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 07, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Floyd Preston)
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Sep 04, 2011
Submitted by: Gary Jue
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 02, 2011
Observation date: Sep 04, 2011
Submitted by: Gary Jue
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 02, 2011
Observation date: Sep 04, 2011
Submitted by: Gary Jue
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 02, 2011
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