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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 369 verified sightings
Observation date: May 21, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 24, 2020
Observation date: Jul 28, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Park County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 23, 2019
Observation date: Jun 23, 2018
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 19, 2019
Observation date: Jul 09, 2018
Submitted by: Wendy McCrady
Region: Custer County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Nov 05, 2019
Observation date: Jul 27, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Park County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 13, 2019
Observation date: Jul 26, 2019
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Hinsdale County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 05, 2019
Observation date: Jul 20, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Fremont County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 28, 2019
Observation date: Jul 20, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Fremont County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 27, 2019
Observation date: Aug 03, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 16, 2019
Observation date: Jul 05, 2019
Submitted by: Northern John
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Aug 05, 2019
Observation date: Jun 07, 2019
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 07, 2019
Observation date: Jun 28, 1930
Submitted by: CBMNIntern
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2019
Observation date: Jun 02, 2019
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 02, 2019
Observation date: May 30, 2019
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 30, 2019
Observation date: Jul 20, 2018
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 01, 2019
Observation date: Jun 28, 2016
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 19, 2018
Observation date: Jul 06, 2018
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 15, 2018
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Clallam County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 19, 2018
Observation date: Jul 14, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 17, 2018
Observation date: Jun 18, 2016
Submitted by: Bill Thompson 2524
Region: Ravalli County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 09, 2018
Observation date: Jun 25, 2018
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 26, 2018
Observation date: May 20, 2018
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 20, 2018
Observation date: May 20, 2018
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 20, 2018
Observation date: Jul 07, 2017
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 22, 2017
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