North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Nevada

Hoffmann's Checkerspot (Chlosyne hoffmanni)
JPG -- species photo

Hoffmann's Checkerspot (Chlosyne hoffmanni [Behr])

Wing span: 1 3/8 - 1 3/4 inches (3.5 - 4.5 cm).

Identification: Wing bases are dark. Upperside of forewing with median and postmedian bands combined into one wide tawny band. Underside hindwing spots are cream-colored, not pearly.

Life history: Males patrol near the host plants for females. Eggs are laid in groups on the underside of host plant leaves, which the caterpillars eat. Young caterpillars feed together in silk webs. Partially-grown caterpillars hibernate.

Flight: One flight from June-July.

Caterpillar hosts: Various asters.

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Forest edges and openings.

Range: British Columbia south through the mountains to Tulare County, California, in the Sierra Nevada.

Conservation: Not usually required.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.

References:


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:


Emmel, T.C. Editor. 1998. Systematics of western North American butterflies.

     Mariposa Press, Gainesville, Florida.



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.

Hoffmann's Checkerspot (Chlosyne hoffmanni)
distribution map
map legend

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