Black Checkerspot
Chlosyne cyneas (Godman & Salvin, 1878)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside dark brown with brownish-red marginal spots and two neat rows of white spots. Underside white, cream, or yellow with black veins; median black band contains a row of light spots.
Wing Span: 1 3/8 - 1 5/8 inches (3.5 - 4.2 cm).
Life History: Males perch and sometimes patrol during the day on hilltops to find females. Eggs are laid in groups on the underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars feed on leaves and flowers; young ones live together in a loose web. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: Many broods from April-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Brachystigma in Arizona and Seymeria tenuisecta in Mexico. Also Castilleja.
Adult Food: Flower nectar including seep willow.
Habitat: Mountain meadows and openings in Ponderosa pine, oak, and pinyon woods.
Range: Rare in the United States. Southern Mexico north to southeastern Arizona.
Conservation: Conserve as much United States habitat as possible.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Prevent overgrazing and improper logging practices in United States habitats.
Comments: The caterpillar host plant spelling was corrected to Brachystigma from Brachiostygma.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 40 of 40 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 06, 2000
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 15, 1916
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: Gary Jue (Gary Jue)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: Gary Jue (Gary Jue)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 26, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John Yerger)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba (John Saba)
Verified date: Aug 18, 2009
Observation date: Jul 26, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Rich Hoyer & Jake Mohlmann)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba (John Saba)
Verified date: Aug 18, 2009
Observation date: Aug 01, 2009
Submitted by: John Saba (John Saba)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba (John Saba)
Verified date: Aug 17, 2009
Observation date: Jul 18, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Doug Mullins & John Rhodes)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba (John Saba)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Jun 24, 2009
Submitted by: John Saba (John Saba)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba (John Saba)
Verified date: Jul 06, 2009
Observation date: Mar 22, 2009
Submitted by: Gary Jue (Gary Jue)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba (John Saba)
Verified date: Apr 21, 2009
Observation date: Oct 30, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J.P.Brock)
Verified date: Jul 28, 2008
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Chihuahua, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sinaloa, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Durango, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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