Sagebrush Checkerspot
Chlosyne acastus (W.H. Edwards, 1874)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside is checkered black, orange-brown, and orange; hindwing has a dark wing base and a light median band. Underside of hindwing has pearly white spots.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 inches (3.9 - 5.1 cm).
Life History: Males perch and sometimes patrol in gulches for females. Eggs are laid in batches on underside of host plant leaves and sometimes on flower buds. Caterpillars eat leaves and flowers, and feed together in groups. Third- and fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate under rocks; some diapause for months and maybe years to survive bad weather.
Flight: Two broods from June-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) and aster (Machaeranthera) in the sunflower family (Asteraceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Sagebrush scrub, pinyon-juniper woodlands, dry gulches.
Range: Eastern North Dakota west to eastern Washington, south to New Mexico, southern Arizona, and eastern California.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported. Note:This butterfly includes several subspecies including neomoegeni.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 97 - 120 of 495 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1901_0.jpg?itok=kLdSY2FO)
Observation date: May 07, 2016
Submitted by: silversea_starsong
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 09, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/sagebrushcheckerspotmarymaki1.jpg?itok=GwND30tT)
Observation date: Apr 19, 2016
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 26, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dv_2016_a_1088.jpg?itok=w-GSyZNO)
Observation date: Mar 27, 2016
Submitted by: OhioHick
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 06, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/chlosyne_acastus_2016-04-05_cottonwood_valley_rrcnca_nv.jpg?itok=zrXmNjYh)
Observation date: Apr 05, 2016
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 06, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dscn3814.jpg?itok=UyomtzJF)
Observation date: Nov 28, 2015
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 09, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/2015box1_035.jpg?itok=JYo3nwjB)
Observation date: Jun 09, 2015
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Big Horn County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 07, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/sagebrush_checkerspot_img_9588_edited-1.jpg?itok=bv6PWLij)
Observation date: May 30, 2012
Submitted by: carlakish
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 24, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1290949.jpg?itok=R03XNfe3)
Observation date: Mar 24, 2015
Submitted by: icosahedron
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 15, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/chlosyne1-dnelson-2015-03-21.jpg?itok=eLusZEnj)
Observation date: Mar 21, 2015
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 01, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20140912_082532_2.jpg?itok=mYafbQx-)
Observation date: Sep 12, 2014
Submitted by: coreyk
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 04, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/sagebrush-checkerspot_butterfly-garden.jpg?itok=Ot-kXMup)
Observation date: Jul 19, 2014
Submitted by: Doug Backlund
Region: Stanley County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 23, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/arachnecspot041714a.jpg?itok=9UQpRaPE)
Observation date: Apr 17, 2014
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 25, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/chlosyne1-dnelson-2014-03-19.jpg?itok=8dFAWE-P)
Observation date: Mar 19, 2014
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 21, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_3328.jpg?itok=rEb_N6-f)
Observation date: Jun 18, 2013
Submitted by: ChrisVH
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 24, 2013
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Observation date: Apr 29, 1986
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Mineral County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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Observation date: May 01, 2001
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ray Stanford)
Region: Navajo County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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Observation date: Sep 16, 1984
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (O. Shields-R. Wells)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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Observation date: Jun 04, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Thompson)
Region: Lander County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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Observation date: Jun 09, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. Vernon-R. Langston)
Region: Humboldt County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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Observation date: Jun 10, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Nye County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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Observation date: Apr 14, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ray & Kit Stanford)
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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Observation date: Sep 17, 1984
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (O. Shields-R Wells)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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Observation date: Apr 19, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ray Stanford)
Region: Navajo County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Aug 17, 1984
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. Robertson)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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