Common NameSagebrush CheckerspotSeasonalityOne flight per year, peaking in late June to late July.IdentificationThe orange and black-brown patterned upperside, and prominent creamy-white spots of the hindwing underside, are characteristic of three of our Chlosyne, namely acastus, palla, and damoetas. Acastus has more extensive whitish underside markings and a lighter orange upperside than palla and damoetas. The habitat and range of acastus does not overalp with the other similar Chlosyne species in Alberta.
Alberta populations are subspecies acastus.
Scientific NameChlosyne acastusCommon Name
Sagebrush Checkerspot
Habitat
Prairie badlands and grasslands.
Seasonality
One flight per year, peaking in late June to late July.
Identification
The orange and black-brown patterned upperside, and prominent creamy-white spots of the hindwing underside, are characteristic of three of our Chlosyne, namely acastus, palla, and damoetas. Acastus has more extensive…
The orange and black-brown patterned upperside, and prominent creamy-white spots of the hindwing underside, are characteristic of three of our Chlosyne, namely acastus, palla, and damoetas. Acastus has more extensive whitish underside markings and a lighter orange upperside than palla and damoetas. The habitat and range of acastus does not overalp with the other similar Chlosyne species in Alberta.
Alberta populations are subspecies acastus.
Life History
Very little life history data is available for Canadian populations. The larvae are black and spiny, and feed in groups until reaching the third instar (Scott 1986). The Sagebrush Checkerspot has two and occasionally…
Very little life history data is available for Canadian populations. The larvae are black and spiny, and feed in groups until reaching the third instar (Scott 1986). The Sagebrush Checkerspot has two and occasionally three broods in the southwest US (Scott 1986). The unusually long flight period reported for Alberta (8 May to 5 September, Bird et al. 1995) and Saskatchewan (28 May to 7 August, Hooper 1973) are indicative of an occasional or partial second brood.
Conservation
Ranked "Sensitive" in Alberta; dependent primarily on prairie badlands habitat.
Diet Info
The only reported larval host in Canada is an aster, Machaerantha canescens (Bird et al. 1995), which closely matches the prairie badlands distribution of acastus (Moss 1992). Adults nectar at thistles (Bird et al. 1995).
The only reported larval host in Canada is an aster, Machaerantha canescens (Bird et al. 1995), which closely matches the prairie badlands distribution of acastus (Moss 1992). Adults nectar at thistles (Bird et al. 1995).
Range
Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan south to New Mexico and California (Scott 1986). In Alberta, most common along the Red Deer River badlands, north to Dry Island Buffalo Jump (Bird et al. 1995).
Citation
Page Citation for Chlosyne acastus
Page Citation
"Species Details - Chlosyne acastus, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-2812. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
References
AuthorBird, C. D., G.J. Hilchie, N.G. Kondla, E.M. Pike and F. A. H. Sperling
TitleAlberta Butterflies
Publication Date1995
Pages349
AuthorMoss, E. H.
TitleFlora of Alberta
Publication Date1992
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.
AuthorHooper, R.R.
TitleThe Butterflies of Saskatchewan
Publication Date1973
Pages216 pp.
Specimen Information
There are 12 specimens of this Species.
12 results plotted on map in 9 markers. Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.