Edith's Checkerspot - Hodges#4520
Euphydryas editha
This record describes Euphydryas editha (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Taylor’s checkerspot ( Euphydryas editha taylori ) is in imminent danger of going extinct.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Nymphalinae
- Tribe
- Melitaeini
- Genus
- Euphydryas (Checkerspots)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Grasslands and rocky outcrops found in the mountains
Geographic Range
Western US.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Families Scrophulariaceae, Valerianaceae, Plantaginaceae, and Caprifoliaceae.
Life History
Larvae live and feed together in loose silk webs, enter diapause in spring. It hibernates as larvae and emerges next spring. Males typically emerge four to eight days prior to the emergence of females
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euphydryas editha. 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 Edith's Checkerspot - Hodges#4520 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Beatriz Moisset , Aaron Schusteff
Frequently Asked Questions About Edith's Checkerspot - Hodges#4520
What is Edith's Checkerspot - Hodges#4520?
Edith's Checkerspot - Hodges#4520 (Euphydryas editha) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Edith's Checkerspot - Hodges#4520 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Grasslands and rocky outcrops found in the mountains |
| Range | Western US. |
What does Edith's Checkerspot - Hodges#4520 eat?
The diet of the Edith's Checkerspot - Hodges#4520 includes Families Scrophulariaceae, Valerianaceae, Plantaginaceae, and Caprifoliaceae..
What is the life cycle of a Edith's Checkerspot - Hodges#4520?
Larvae live and feed together in loose silk webs, enter diapause in spring. It hibernates as larvae and emerges next spring. Males typically emerge four to eight days prior to the emergence of females