Leanira Checkerspot - Hodges#4505
Chlosyne leanira
This record describes Chlosyne leanira (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
White stripes on the back of the abdomen distinguish this from Chalcedon Checkerspot (which has white spots on the back of the abdomen). Also, the underside coloration is quite different. From very similar C. fulvia & cyneus (which displace it to the east), it differs in having orange palpi, and often distinctly orange antenna clubs (sometimes most of the antenna is orange), and in more often having dark markings (besides the veins) in the basal half of the hind wings. C. fulvia normally has orange coloring on the upper abdomen. May intergrade with C. fulvia in Colorado Plateaus in sw. Colorado, northernmost Arizona and southernmost Utah, but this is still debated, and not well substantiated either way.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Nymphalinae
- Tribe
- Melitaeini
- Genus
- Chlosyne (Patches, Checkerspots)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Oregon, California, and Baja California to southern Idaho and western Colorado, including Great Basin and Mojave Desert. In Colorado Plateaus occurs mostly north of Arizona (west of Colorado R.) & north of Abajo and San Juan Mountains (east of Colorado R.), and is replaced by C. fulvia southward. Except for Mojave Desert portion, is mostly absent from Arizona.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly April - June
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Paintbrush ( Castilleja spp)
Life History
Hibernates as third-stage larva.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Chlosyne leanira. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Leanira Checkerspot - Hodges#4505 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason , Steve Nanz , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Leanira Checkerspot - Hodges#4505
What is Leanira Checkerspot - Hodges#4505?
Leanira Checkerspot - Hodges#4505 (Chlosyne leanira) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Leanira Checkerspot - Hodges#4505?
1.375 - 1.75"
How do you identify Leanira Checkerspot - Hodges#4505?
White stripes on the back of the abdomen distinguish this from Chalcedon Checkerspot (which has white spots on the back of the abdomen). Also, the underside coloration is quite different. From very similar C. fulvia & cyneus (which displace it to the east), it differs in having orange palpi, and often distinctly orange antenna clubs (sometimes most of the antenna is orange), and in more often having dark markings (besides the veins) in the basal half of the hind wings. C. fulvia normally has orange coloring on the upper abdomen. May intergrade with C. fulvia in Colorado Plateaus in sw. Colorado, northernmost Arizona and southernmost Utah, but this is still debated, and not well substantiated either way.
Where is Leanira Checkerspot - Hodges#4505 found?
Range: Oregon, California, and Baja California to southern Idaho and western Colorado, including Great Basin and Mojave Desert. In Colorado Plateaus occurs mostly north of Arizona (west of Colorado R.) & north of Abajo and San Juan Mountains (east of Colorado R.), and is replaced by C. fulvia southward. Except for Mojave Desert portion, is mostly absent from Arizona.
What does Leanira Checkerspot - Hodges#4505 eat?
The diet of the Leanira Checkerspot - Hodges#4505 includes Larvae feed on Paintbrush ( Castilleja spp).
When is Leanira Checkerspot - Hodges#4505 active?
Leanira Checkerspot - Hodges#4505: seasonal activity - Adults fly April - June.
What is the life cycle of a Leanira Checkerspot - Hodges#4505?
Hibernates as third-stage larva.