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 442 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 06, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Jul 01, 1989
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 07, 2025
Observation date: Aug 08, 2005
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 07, 2025
Observation date: Jul 09, 1987
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 07, 2025
Observation date: Jul 30, 1989
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 07, 2025
Observation date: Jun 21, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 23, 2025
Observation date: Jun 15, 2025
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Clallam County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 15, 2025
Observation date: Jul 07, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 15, 2025
Observation date: Jul 07, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 14, 2025
Observation date: Jun 25, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 28, 2025
Observation date: Jul 04, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 10, 2024
Observation date: Jul 29, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 04, 2024
Observation date: Jul 22, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Garfield County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
Observation date: Jun 22, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 29, 2024
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
Observation date: Jul 05, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 08, 2024
Observation date: Jul 06, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 08, 2024
Observation date: Jul 06, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 08, 2024
Observation date: Jul 06, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 08, 2024
Observation date: Jun 29, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 08, 2024
Observation date: Jun 16, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Huerfano County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 04, 2024
Observation date: Jun 18, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 03, 2024
Observation date: Jun 17, 2024
Submitted by: Dogoszhi
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 03, 2024
Observation date: Jun 21, 2024
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 24, 2024
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