Common NameNorthern CheckerspotSeasonalityOne yearly flight, peak activity between late June and late July.IdentificationThe upperside exhibits the typical checkerspot pattern of orange and brown-black, with a checkered orange-red and cream underside. Superficially similar to the Euphydryas checkerspots, but distinguished by the absence of cream-white spots on the upperside. More difficult to separate from the Rockslide Checkerspot (C. damoetas), which has a slightly duller, dingier look to it, with fewer dark markings on the forewing top. Damoetas is found only above treeline in rockslides and boulder fields, Northern Checkerspots rarely wander up this high. D. Macaulay image
It is not clear which subspecies name best applies to Alberta populations (Bird et al. 1995). The Peace River population represents an undescribed subspecies.
Scientific NameChlosyne pallaCommon Name
Northern Checkerspot
Habitat
Mountain meadows and Peace River grasslands.
Seasonality
One yearly flight, peak activity between late June and late July.
Identification
The upperside exhibits the typical checkerspot pattern of orange and brown-black, with a checkered orange-red and cream underside. Superficially similar to the Euphydryas checkerspots, but distinguished by the absence…
The upperside exhibits the typical checkerspot pattern of orange and brown-black, with a checkered orange-red and cream underside. Superficially similar to the Euphydryas checkerspots, but distinguished by the absence of cream-white spots on the upperside. More difficult to separate from the Rockslide Checkerspot (C. damoetas), which has a slightly duller, dingier look to it, with fewer dark markings on the forewing top. Damoetas is found only above treeline in rockslides and boulder fields, Northern Checkerspots rarely wander up this high. D. Macaulay image
It is not clear which subspecies name best applies to Alberta populations (Bird et al. 1995). The Peace River population represents an undescribed subspecies.
Life History
No data available for western Canada. The pale green eggs are laid in clusters on the hostplant. Larvae are white-spotted and black, with dorsal and lateral orange dashes and black spines. Partially grown larvae…
No data available for western Canada. The pale green eggs are laid in clusters on the hostplant. Larvae are white-spotted and black, with dorsal and lateral orange dashes and black spines. Partially grown larvae overwinter (Scott 1986)
Conservation
The Peace River population is endemic and distinct from mountain populations.
Diet Info
Larval hosts are unknown in Alberta. In BC, larvae feed asters (Guppy & Shepard 2001) and other composites are used in the US (Scott 1986).
Range
Central BC and southern Alberta south to Colorado and California (Scott 1986). There is a disjunct population in the Peace River grasslands of Alberta / BC (Layberry et al. 1998).
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Citation
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Page Citation for Chlosyne palla
Page Citation
"Species Details - Chlosyne palla, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-2809. Accessed 04 May. 2024.
Authorship
NameSchmidt, B. C.
Rolespecies page author
Date2003-03-21
References
AuthorBird, C. D., G.J. Hilchie, N.G. Kondla, E.M. Pike and F. A. H. Sperling
TitleAlberta Butterflies
Publication Date1995
Pages349
AuthorGuppy, Crispin S. and Jon H. Shepard
TitleButterflies of British Columbia.
Publication Date2001
Pages414
AuthorLayberry, Ross A.; Hall, Peter W. and J. Donald LaFontaine
TitleThe Butterflies of Canada
Publication Date1998
Pages280
AuthorScott, J. A.
TitleThe Butterflies of North America : a natural history and field guide
Publication Date1986
Pages583 pp.
Specimen Information
There are 51 specimens of this Species.
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51 results plotted on map in 14 markers. Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.