Sierra Nevada Parnassian
Parnassius behrii W.H. Edwards, 1870
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Parnassiinae
Identification: Upperside of forewing with 2 black spots and 1-3 small yellow or orange spots along front edge. Hindwing with 2 round yellow or orange spots. Hairs on abdomen light yellow.
Wing Span: 1 15/16 - 2 1/16 inches (4.9 - 5.3 cm).
Life History: Males patrol close to the ground for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on almost any surface. Caterpillars feed on leaves and occasionally flowers and fruits. Hibernate as eggs.
Flight: One flight mainly mid-July to early September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Stonecrop (Sedum) in the Crassulaceae family.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers of Sedum and Asteraceae family.
Habitat: Rock slides, alpine tundra, and stream edges.
Range: Sierra Nevada of California.
Conservation: Species has small range and is subject to random climatic events.
NCGR: G3, G4 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range OR Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None noted.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 66 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 30, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 13, 2021
Observation date: Aug 03, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 11, 2021
Observation date: Sep 10, 2017
Submitted by: Veselyjames
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 13, 2018
Observation date: Aug 09, 2018
Submitted by: lhrobinson9672
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 16, 2018
Observation date: Jul 22, 2016
Submitted by: Bixia
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 12, 2016
Observation date: Jul 22, 2016
Submitted by: Bixia
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 12, 2016
Observation date: Jul 03, 2012
Submitted by: eal79
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 16, 2012
Observation date: Jul 03, 2012
Submitted by: eal79
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 16, 2012
Observation date: Aug 17, 2011
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 11, 1963
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 11, 1963
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 09, 1991
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Nevada County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jul 24, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jeffrey Glassberg)
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Jul 29, 1909
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: Placer County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. A. Comstock)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: Jul 04, 1909
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: Placer County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. A. Comstock)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: Aug 13, 1952
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Aug 20, 1958
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Oakley Shields)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Aug 15, 1957
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Jul 18, 1958
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Oakley Shields)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Aug 20, 1957
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Oakley Shields)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Aug 24, 1958
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Oakley Shields)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Aug 14, 1952
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Jul 19, 1958
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Aug 31, 1958
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
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