Arachne Checkerspot
Poladryas arachne (W.H. Edwards, 1869)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside is bright orange-brown. Underside is orange; hindwing outer margin has two rows of white spots divided by a thin black line.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches (3.2 - 4.5 cm).
Life History: Males perch on low plants in ridgetop openings during the morning hours; in the afternoons they patrol around flowers. Females lay eggs in batches on the underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves and feed together in groups when they are young. Hibernation is by the third-stage caterpillars.
Flight: Several broods from May-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various species of beardstongue (Penstemon) in the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Desert grasslands, open mountain meadows and fields.
Range: Western Nebraska; southeast Wyoming; eastern Nevada south through the Rocky Mountains to Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas, and southern Mexico. Isolated population in the southern Sierra Nevada of California.
Conservation: Not usually of concern.
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 94 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 05, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Sep 07, 2021
Submitted by: rebeccagracey
Region: Catron County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 10, 2021
Observation date: Jul 09, 2021
Submitted by: butterfly rose
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 26, 2021
Observation date: Jun 11, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 14, 2021
Observation date: Jul 16, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Laramie County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 16, 2021
Observation date: Jul 01, 2014
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Niobrara County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 08, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 17, 2020
Observation date: Aug 05, 2020
Submitted by: Harry Forbes
Region: Park County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 17, 2020
Observation date: Jul 07, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 15, 2020
Observation date: Jun 29, 2020
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 21, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Gilpin County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 30, 2020
Observation date: Jul 14, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Lake County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: Apr 11, 2020
Observation date: Jun 14, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 27, 2020
Observation date: Jul 25, 2019
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Las Animas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 23, 2019
Observation date: Jul 11, 2019
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 31, 2019
Observation date: Jun 12, 2019
Submitted by: MaryAnn Friedman
Region: Douglas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 24, 2019
Observation date: Jul 02, 2018
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 07, 2019
Observation date: Aug 02, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Greenlee County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 12, 2018
Observation date: Jul 20, 2018
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 10, 2018
Observation date: Aug 19, 2018
Submitted by: JulieLuetzelschwab
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 23, 2018
Observation date: Jul 26, 2018
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 07, 2018
Observation date: Jun 20, 2013
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 29, 2018
Observation date: Aug 12, 2017
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 26, 2017
Observation date: May 27, 2012
Submitted by: carlakish
Region: Gila County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 24, 2015
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