California Sister

Appearance

The upper surfaces of the wings of ''A. californica'' is a dark brown to black. It has two large orange patches near the tip of the forewings and wide postdiscal creamy white bands on both wings. The ventral surfaces of the wings are generally similar but with blue bands along the edges of both wings, as well as blue and orange patterns on the corners near the body. Like other members of the genus, the butterfly is named "sister" for its black and white markings on the forewing that resemble a nun's habit.

''A. californica'' closely resembles ''A. bredowii'' and ''A. eulalia''. However it generally does not share the same distribution range as the other two. ''A. bredowii'' is only found in southern and western Mexico. ''A. eulalia'' is found in Arizona and the surrounding areas, though it may sometimes be found in southeastern California. They also differ morphologically from ''A. eulalia'' in usually being smaller and in the presence of a second orange bar in the upper proximal corner of the hind wings. ''A. californica'' also closely resembles the females of some species in the genus ''Doxocopa''. Though their distribution range also do not overlap, as ''Doxocopa'' are primarily found in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

Other species which resemble ''A. californica'' includes other members of the genus ''Adelpha'', and the Lorquin's Admiral .

Distribution

''A. californica'' is found in the extreme western North America, from northern Baja California of Mexico, most of California, western Nevada, western Oregon of the United States. It may also sometimes be found in southwestern Washington, though these are believed to be vagrant individuals. They are abundant in oak woodlands.

Status

The species is not considered threatened and is classified as G5 by NatureServe. It is abundant throughout its range.

Behavior

The eggs of ''A. californica'' are green in color. They are laid singly on tips of leaves of oak plants , on the upper surface. There are four larval instars. The first instar hatches from the egg after eleven days. It is olive green in color with pale flecks and a mottled light and dark brown head. It builds leaf perches from the leaf midrib, like the larvae of other members of the genus. After nine days, it molts into the second instar which is green with various shades of brown and a light brown head. After eight days it molts again into the third instar which is a pale brownish yellow covered densely in yellowish conical tubercles. It also has developing scoli each tipped with four to five black spines. The head is a pale green with four vertical brown stripes and also covered with tubercles. The fourth instar develops after four days and is a light reddish-brown with greenish sides, yellowish tubercles, and fully developed scoli as well as new developing ones. It molts after nine days into the last instar which is olive green with brown undersides and legs, it is densely covered with yellowish tubercles . All segments now possess scoli, some bearing white thick conical spines with black tips. The head is brown to pale brown, flattened and smooth, with a double row of yellowish white long spines at the sides and a pair of black dorsal spines. The second to fifth instars all adopt a front-arched-rear-up posture when resting. After fourteen days, the final instar will pupate. The pupa is pale brown to pale golden yellow with streaks and patches of dark brown and metallic gold. It is attached to tree trunks by large silken webs. The adults emerge after 10 days. The total development time from egg to adult is sixty five days.

The usual host plants for the larvae are the canyon live oak and the coast live oak , as well as other species of oaks. This diet makes ''A. californica'' unpalatable to predators, which might explain why so many other species have formed a mimicry complex around it.

The adults are commonly found flying near the upper branches of oak trees or perching near small streams and canyons. Males are commonly seen engaging in mud-puddling in moist ground, typically in mid-morning. Both sexes also feed on nectar from flowers , as well as drink from rotting fruit, sap, and animal droppings. Depending on seasonal conditions and elevation, the species produces one to three generations annually, usually from March through November. The main brood flies from late March into October, and adults may sometimes last through the winter months.

Habitat

''A. californica'' is found in the extreme western North America, from northern Baja California of Mexico, most of California, western Nevada, western Oregon of the United States. It may also sometimes be found in southwestern Washington, though these are believed to be vagrant individuals. They are abundant in oak woodlands.The eggs of ''A. californica'' are green in color. They are laid singly on tips of leaves of oak plants , on the upper surface. There are four larval instars. The first instar hatches from the egg after eleven days. It is olive green in color with pale flecks and a mottled light and dark brown head. It builds leaf perches from the leaf midrib, like the larvae of other members of the genus. After nine days, it molts into the second instar which is green with various shades of brown and a light brown head. After eight days it molts again into the third instar which is a pale brownish yellow covered densely in yellowish conical tubercles. It also has developing scoli each tipped with four to five black spines. The head is a pale green with four vertical brown stripes and also covered with tubercles. The fourth instar develops after four days and is a light reddish-brown with greenish sides, yellowish tubercles, and fully developed scoli as well as new developing ones. It molts after nine days into the last instar which is olive green with brown undersides and legs, it is densely covered with yellowish tubercles . All segments now possess scoli, some bearing white thick conical spines with black tips. The head is brown to pale brown, flattened and smooth, with a double row of yellowish white long spines at the sides and a pair of black dorsal spines. The second to fifth instars all adopt a front-arched-rear-up posture when resting. After fourteen days, the final instar will pupate. The pupa is pale brown to pale golden yellow with streaks and patches of dark brown and metallic gold. It is attached to tree trunks by large silken webs. The adults emerge after 10 days. The total development time from egg to adult is sixty five days.

The usual host plants for the larvae are the canyon live oak and the coast live oak , as well as other species of oaks. This diet makes ''A. californica'' unpalatable to predators, which might explain why so many other species have formed a mimicry complex around it.

The adults are commonly found flying near the upper branches of oak trees or perching near small streams and canyons. Males are commonly seen engaging in mud-puddling in moist ground, typically in mid-morning. Both sexes also feed on nectar from flowers , as well as drink from rotting fruit, sap, and animal droppings. Depending on seasonal conditions and elevation, the species produces one to three generations annually, usually from March through November. The main brood flies from late March into October, and adults may sometimes last through the winter months.