Chalcedon Checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona (Doubleday, [1847])
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Extremely variable. Forewing narrow. Upperside is black to dark orange-brown with yellow, red, and sometimes white spots. Underside with yellow and orange-red bands.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 2 1/4 inches (3.2 - 5.7 cm).
Life History: Males perch or patrol all day for females. Eggs are laid in large groups on underside of leaves of host plants. Caterpillars feed together on leaves, flowers, or bracts in a silk nest. Third- and fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate under rocks or in litter. Caterpillars in high elevations can hibernate for several years.
Flight: One flight; April-June in California and Oregon, June-July in the north and higher elevations. Several flights from April-October in western Arizona, southern Nevada, and the Mojave Desert.
Caterpillar Hosts: Besseya, penstemon, and Indian paintbrush (Scrophulariaceae); snowberry and honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae); and plants from several other families including Boraginaceae and Rosaceae.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Sagebrush flats, chaparral, desert hills, high prairie, open forest, alpine tundra.
Range: Alaska south along the Pacific Coast through California and Arizona to Baja California and Mexico; east to Montana, the Dakotas, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico.
Conservation: Some subspecies and unnamed populations may require monitoring, management, or preservation.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Maintain habitat integrity, host plant colonies, and nectar sources. Note: This species used to include these additional separate species Euphydryas anicia, E. chalcedona, and E. colon.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 978 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 11, 2022
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 09, 2024
Observation date: Jul 30, 2024
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 02, 2024
Observation date: Jul 13, 2024
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
Observation date: Jun 19, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
Observation date: May 18, 2023
Submitted by: icosahedron
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
Observation date: Jun 14, 2024
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: rhzimmer
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 12, 2024
Observation date: May 18, 2024
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: May 18, 2024
Submitted by: offthehill
Region: Lake County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 20, 2024
Observation date: May 18, 2024
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 19, 2024
Observation date: May 12, 2024
Submitted by: yhelfman
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 16, 2024
Observation date: May 03, 2024
Submitted by: yhelfman
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 06, 2024
Observation date: May 01, 2024
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 02, 2024
Observation date: Apr 18, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 26, 2024
Observation date: Apr 20, 2024
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 26, 2024
Observation date: Apr 18, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 23, 2024
Observation date: Nov 11, 2023
Submitted by: katrinaoller
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2023
Observation date: May 25, 2023
Submitted by: danfay
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 15, 2023
Observation date: Jul 27, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 03, 2023
Observation date: May 16, 2023
Submitted by: dharlette
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 23, 2023
Observation date: May 27, 2023
Submitted by: Nettabird
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 13, 2023
Observation date: May 31, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 12, 2023
Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: LHenriksen
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 04, 2023
Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 03, 2023
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