Chryxus Arctic
Oeneis chryxus (Doubleday, [1849])
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Satyrinae
Identification: Upperside is cream to brownish-orange. Forewing has 1-4 small black eyespots near the outer margin; hindwing has 1-2. Male forewing has a dark patch of sex scales. Underside of hindwing has black and white striations, a wide dark median band, veins with white scales, and only 1 black spot near the lower inner margin of the wing.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/8 inches (4.5 - 5.4 cm).
Life History: Caterpillars require 2 years to complete development; hibernating as young caterpillars the first winter, and as mature ones the second winter.
Flight: One brood from late May-early June every year; may be biennial because it is more numerous in even-numbered years in the Great Lakes region.
Caterpillar Hosts: Poverty oat-grass (Danthonia spicata).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open grassy, rocky, and woodland areas; meadows; alpine tundra.
Range: Southern Alaska and Yukon Territory south through the western mountains to New Mexico; east across Canada to Manitoba. Isolated population in eastern Canada, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Conservation: Not usually required.
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 394 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 21, 2021
Submitted by: Harry Forbes
Region: Iron County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 18, 2021
Observation date: Aug 03, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 16, 2021
Observation date: Jul 23, 2020
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 19, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 25, 2021
Observation date: May 25, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 22, 2021
Observation date: Jul 13, 2021
Submitted by: Rgilson
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 26, 2021
Observation date: Jul 14, 2013
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 09, 2021
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 15, 2021
Observation date: May 26, 2021
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Crawford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 03, 2021
Observation date: May 25, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 25, 2021
Observation date: May 13, 2021
Submitted by: Ssneed
Region: Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 24, 2021
Observation date: May 17, 2021
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 20, 2021
Observation date: May 17, 2021
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Crawford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 19, 2021
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Daggett County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 05, 2020
Submitted by: Aner
Region: Custer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 19, 2020
Observation date: Jul 02, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 14, 2020
Observation date: Jul 22, 2020
Submitted by: stinglessbee
Region: Mineral County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 12, 2020
Observation date: Jun 13, 2020
Submitted by: pnesterenko
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 11, 2020
Observation date: Jun 07, 2020
Submitted by: anneepierce
Region: Teller County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 02, 2020
Observation date: May 31, 2020
Submitted by: dbrudin
Region: Teller County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 02, 2020
Observation date: Jun 24, 2020
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: White Pine County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 05, 2020
Observation date: Jun 26, 2020
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 30, 2020
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