North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of South Dakota

Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides)
JPG -- species photo

Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides [Lucas])

Wing span: 1 1/2 - 2 inches (3.8 - 5.1 cm).

Identification: Scattered white scales in forewing black bar. Black pattern on tip of upperside of forewing. Dense green marbling on underside of hindwing.

Life history: Males patrol valleys and hillsides for females. Eggs are laid singly on unopened flower buds; caterpillars eat flowers and fruits. Chrysalids hibernate.

Flight: One in the north, May-July; two in central California, February-April and May-August.

Caterpillar hosts: Plants of the mustard (Brassicaceae) family including rockcress (Arabis drummondi), dyer's woad (Isatis tinctoria), mustards (Brassica species), and hedge mustard (Sisymbrium species).

Adult food: Nectar from flowers of the mustard family and other plants such as fiddleneck (Amsinckia) and brodiaeas.

Habitat: Valleys, hillsides, fields, meadows, and other open sunny areas.

Range: Alaska south to central California and northern New Mexico, east to southwest Manitoba.

Conservation: Not usually required.

Management needs: None needed.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

References:

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. and G. O. Krizek. 1984. Butterflies east of the  Great Plains. 
     Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 294 pages, 54 color plates.

Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern  butterflies.  
     Peterson field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co.,  Boston. 396 pages, 
     48 color plates.

Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford  University 
     Press, Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.

Tilden, J. W. 1986. A field guide to western butterflies.  Houghton-Mifflin 
     Co., Boston, Mass. 370 pages, 23 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

State and Regional References:

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.
Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides)
distribution map
map legend

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