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Desert Marble (Euchloe lotta Beutenmueller)
Wing span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches (3.2 - 4.5 cm).
Identification: Upperside of forewing with cell bar very close to edge of wing. Cell bar usually wide and devoid of white scales, but may be narrow in some populations. Underside pearly white; hindwing with dark green marbling.
Life history: Males patrol on hilltops or ridges for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on host plant leaves, flowers, or fruits. Flowers and fruits are the preferred food of the caterpillars. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from March-June.
Caterpillar hosts: Plants in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family including rock cress (Arabis), peppergrass (Lepidium), and tansy-mustard (Descurainia).
Adult food: Flower nectar including that of hosts and others such as phloxes.
Habitat: Deserts, rocky canyons, hills, ridges, open pinyon-juniper woodlands.
Range: Interior of south British Columbia east of Cascades and Sierra Nevada south to southern California, east to Colorado and New Mexico.
Conservation: None reported.
Management needs: Manage habitat with host plants.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5, globally secure.
References:
Bailowitz, R. A., and J. P. Brock. 1991. Butterflies of southeastern Arizona.
Sonoran Arthropod Studies, Inc., Tucson, Arizona. 342 pages.
Emmel, T.C. and J.F. Emmel. 1973. The butterflies of southern California.
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles. 148 pages.
Ferris, C.D. and F.M. Brown. 1981. Butterflies of the Rocky Mountain States.
University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. 442 pages.
Garth, J.S. and J.W. Tilden. 1986.California Butterflies. University of California
Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles. 246 pp, 24 plates.
Layberry, R.A., P.W. Hall, and J.D. Lafontaine. 1998. The Butterflies of Canada.
University of Toronto Press, Toronto. 282 pages, 32 color plates.
Opler, P. A. 1968. Studies on nearctic Euchloe. Part 5. Distribution. Journal
of Research on the Lepidoptera 7(2): 65-86.
Opler, P. A. 1969 (1970). Studies on nearctic Euchloe. Part 6. Systematic of
adults. Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 8(4): 153-168.
Opler, P. A. 1974. Studies on nearctic Euchloe. Part 7. Comparative life
histories, hosts, and the morphology of immature stages. Journal of
Research on the Lepidoptera 13(1): 1-20.
Opler, P.A. 1999. A field guide to western butterflies. Houghton-Mifflin Co.,
Boston, Mass. 540 pages, 44 color plates.
Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University
Press, Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.
Author: Paul A. Opler
State and Regional References:
Elrod, M.J. 1906. The Butterflies of Montana. Bulletin of the University of
Montana 30: 1-174.
Ferris, C.D. and F.M. Brown. 1980. Butterflies of the Rocky Mountain States.
University of Oklahoma Press. Norman.
Layberry, R.A., Hall, P.W. & Lafontaine, D.J., 1998. The Butterflies of
Canada. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, ON. 280 pp.
Opler, Paul A. 1999. Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies, revised
edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.
Stanford, R.E. and P.A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western USA Butterflies.
Privately published, Denver, Colo.
Tilden, J.W. and A.C. Smith. 1986. A Field Guide to Western Butterflies.
Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.
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