Euphydryas chalcedona

Variable checkerspot

comments (5)

WildFlower

Lion

I'm not convinced this is Euphydryas editha because the spots on the hind wings are mostly white while Euphydryas editha has a line of orange spots. It could be either Euphydryas chalcedona or Euphydryas colon but it is hard to discriminate between them because they are very similar and very variable too. Euphydryas chalcedona used to include the species Euphydryas anicia, E. chalcedona, and E. colon so some sources may still have them mixed.

Do you have a photo showing the underside of the wings?

http://academic.evergreen.edu/projects/ants/TESCBiota/kingdom/animalia/phylum/arthropoda/class/insecta/order/lepidoptera/family/nymphalidae/genera/euphydryas/species/taylori/taylori.html
http://butterfliesofamerica.com/t/Euphydryas_editha_a.htm
http://butterfliesofamerica.com/t/Euphydryas_colon_a.htm
http://butterfliesofamerica.com/t/Euphydryas_chalcedona_a.htm Posted 10 years ago, modified 10 years ago
1. mossy rock studio
  
  Lion
  
  Yes.I do have a photo showing the underside of wings.Thanks for help. Posted 10 years ago, modified 10 years ago
2. 1. WildFlower
    
    Lion
    
    I don't see the second orange row of spots outlined in blue on the first reference which confirms it is not Euphydryas editha. I cannot find a key to discriminate between the other 2 species and according to this list both are found in the region.
    http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/checklists?species_type=0&tid=2447
    There is a description for E. chalcedona colon as a subspecies at bugguide.
    http://bugguide.net/node/view/242102
    This specimen doesn't have that row but in the references above there are speciemens with and without that row of spots in both species. I suggest we identify it as Euphydryas chalcedona. There is no wiki entry for E. colon anyway. Posted 10 years ago
  2. 1. mossy rock studio
      
      Lion
      
      Good suggestion I agree. Posted 10 years ago, modified 10 years ago

morpheme

Lion

Lol - and I thought you'd beat me to it by a day :p - I'm not 100% sure, the checkerspots look so similar, but I think I did get the Edith's yesterday. Posted 10 years ago

The Variable checkerspot

The variable checkerspot or chalcedon checkerspot is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in western North America, where its range stretches from Alaska in the north to Baja California in the south and extends east through the Rocky Mountains into Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming. The butterfly is usually brown or black with extensive white and yellow checkering and some red coloration on the dorsal wing. Adult wingspan is 3.2 cm–5.7 cm . Adult butterflies feed on nectar.. more

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Similar species: Moths And Butterflies

Species identified by WildFlower

By mossy rock studio

Uploaded Jun 7, 2015. Captured Jun 4, 2015 16:39 in South Hull Road, Oregon City, OR 97045, USA.

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