Nymphalidae: Brushfoot Butterflies

Subfamily Libytheinae — Snouts
Link Butterfly and host plant
Link to Libytheana carinenta streckeri page Libytheana carinenta streckeri - Western Snout
· Hackberry trees (Celtis reticulata)

Subfamily Danainae — Monarchs
Link to page with photographs and information about Danaus plexippus - the monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus plexippus - Monarch
· Milkweeds (Asclepias), inc. fascicularis, californica, subulata, eriocarpa, erosa, albicans
Link to Danaus gilippus thersippus page - Queen butterflies Danaus gilippus thersippus - Striated Queen
· Milkweeds inc. desert milkweed, Asclepias erosa; the reed milkweeds A. albicans and A. subulata; and the climbing milkweed Funastrum hirtellum.

Subfamily Limentidinae — Admirals and relatives
Link Butterfly and host plant
Link to Limenitis lorquini lorquini page Limenitis lorquini lorquini - Lorquin's Admiral
· Willows, Poplars, Cottonwoods, others
Link to Liminitis lorquini powelli page Limenitis lorquini powelli - 'Powell's' Lorquin's Admiral
· Willows, Poplars, Cottonwoods, Chokecherry, others
Link to Adelpha californica page Adelpha californica - California Sister
· Quercus chrysolepis, (canyon live oak), Q. cornelius-mulleri, (desert scrub oak)
Link to Adelpha eulalia page Adelpha eulalia - Arizona Sister
· Oaks, likely Canyon Oak (Quercus chrysolepis) in CA.
Others
Limenitis arthemis arizonensis appears to be a rare stray to our side of the CA/AZ border.
Limenitis archippus obsoleta - the Viceroy - may be extirpated from CA parts of the Colorado River.

Subfamily Heliconiinae — Heliconians and Fritillaries
Link Butterfly and host plant
Link to Dione (Agraulis vanillae) incarnata page - Gulf Fritillary Dione incarnata incarnata - Western Gulf Fritillary
· Most species (not all) of passionflower vines (Passiflora)
Link to Euptoieta claudia page - Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia - Variegated Fritillary
· Needs to be determined but suspects are Linum lewisii, violets, a few others
No photos yet Boloria epithore sierra - Western Meadow/Pacific Fritillary
Violets - Greenhorn Mtns only in so. Cal.
Link to Argynnis coronis semiramis page Argynnis coronis semiramis - "Semiramis' Coronis Fritillary
· Violets
Link to Argynnis coronis hennei page Argynnis coronis hennei - 'Henne's' Coronis Fritillary
· Violets
link to Argynnis zerene monticola page Argynnis zerene monticola - Zerene Fritillary
· Violets
Link to Argynnis callippe comstocki page Argynnis callippe comstocki - 'Comstock's' Callippe Fritillary
· Violets
Link to Argynnis callippe macaria page Argynnis callippe macaria - 'Macaria' Callippe Fritillary
· Violets
No photos yet Argynnis callippe laurina - Unsilvered Macaria Fritillary
Violets - Greenhorn Mountains
Link to page with photographs of Argynnis egleis egleis Argynnis egleis egleis - Great Basin Fritillary
· Violets
No photos yet Argynnis adiaste clemencei - Clemence's Fritillary
Violets - SLO Co.
Link to Argynnis hydaspe viridicornis page Argynnis hydaspe viridicornis - Greenhorn Hydaspe Fritillary
· Violets; probably Viola sheltonii at Greenhorns at least.
Link to Argynnis mormonia mormonia page Argynnis mormonia mormonia - Mormon Fritillary
· Violets
Others
• Argynnis egleis tehachapina and Argynnis adiaste atossa are apparently extinct. No records since 1998 and 1960, respectively.

Subfamily Nymphalinae — True Brushfoots
Link Butterfly and host plant
Link to Vanessa virginiensis page Vanessa virginiensis - American Lady
· Pseudognaphalium species inc. biolettii, californicum, canescens, other Composites usually but not exclusively. Licorice (Helichrysum petiolare) in the garden.
Link to Vanessa cardui page - Painted Lady butterfly Vanessa cardui - Painted Lady
· Thistles, Nettles, Mallows, Fiddleneck, et al. Even Lupines.
Link to Vanessa annabella page Vanessa annabella - West Coast Lady
· Mallows inc. natives Hibiscus denudatus, Sidalcea malviflora, varieties of desert mallow, also stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)
Link to Vanessa atalanta rubria page Vanessa atalanta rubria - Red Admiral
· Usually stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) in the wild, but (inc. Baby's Tears in gardens is said to work as well. Hops also.
Link to Aglais milberti subpallida page Nymphalis milberti subpallida - Milbert's Tortoiseshell
· Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)
Link to Nymphalis californica californica page Nymphalis californica californica - California Tortoiseshell
· Ceanothus inc. C. perplexans
Link to Nymphalis antiopa page Nymphalis antiopa - Mourning Cloak
· Willows, Cottonwoods, Elms
Link to Polygonia satyrus page Polygonia satyrus - Satyr Comma
· Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)
Link to Polygonia gracilis zephyrus page Polygonia gracilis zephyrus - Hoary Comma
· Currants (Ribes)
Link to Junonia grisea page Junonia grisea - 'Gray' Common Buckeye
· Many species in the families Plantaginaceae and Orobanchaceae such as plantain, monkeyflowers, snapdragons
no photos yet Euphydryas editha editha - Edith's Checkerspot
SLO, SB Cos. such as Los Osos
no photos yet Euphydryas editha insularis - Edith's Checkerspot
Santa Rosa Island
Link to Euphydryas editha augustina page Euphydryas editha augustina - Edith's Checkerspot
· I've seen larvae mostly on Castilleja applegatei, but also on Pedicularis semibarbata. Probably uses Castilleja affinis and other paintbrushes as well.
Link to Euphydryas editha quino page - the Quino checkerspot Euphydryas editha quino - Quino Checkerspot
· Dwarf Plantain (Plantago erecta), Wooly Plantain (Plantago patagonica), White Snapdragon (Antirrhinum coulterianum), Bird's beak (Cordylanthus rigidus), Chinese houses (Collinsia concolor)
Link to Euphydryas editha ehrlichi page Euphydryas editha ehrlichi - Ehrlich's Checkerspot
· Mojave Indian paintbrush (Castilleja plagiotoma)
No photos yet, only the description and information about Euphydryas editha luestherae Euphydryas editha luestherae - LuEsther's Checkerspot
Pedicularis species. Inland SLO Co.
Link to Euphydryas chalcedona chalcedona page Euphydryas chalcedona chalcedona - Chalcedon or Variable Checkerspot
· Several, inc. Keckellia ternata, monkey flower and penstemons.
link to page with photos and information about Euphydryas chalcedona kingstonensis Euphydryas chalcedona kingstonensis - Desert Mountain Checkerspot
· Keckiella antirrhinoides var microphyllum
Link to Euphydryas chalcedona corralensis Euphydryas chalcedona corralensis - Rock Corral Checkerspot
· Keckiella antirrhinoides var microphyllum
Link to Euphydryas chalcedona hennei page Euphydryas chalcedona hennei - 'Henne's' Chalcedon Checkerspot
· Keckiella antirrhinoides var microphyllum, Wooly Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa)
Link to Euphydryas chalcedona olancha page Euphydryas chalcedona olancha - Olancha Checkerspot
· Keckiella is one
No photos yet Chlosyne leanira elegans - 'Elegant' Leanira Checkerspot
Paintbrush (Castilleja spp.) - coastal dunes in SLO and SBarb Cos.
Link to Chlosyne leanira wrightii page Chlosyne leanira wrightii - 'Wright's' Leanira Checkerspot
· Paintbrush (Castilleja spp.)
link to page with photos and information about Chlosyne leanira alma Chlosyne leanira alma - 'Alma' Leanira Checkerspot
· Castilleja chromosa
Link to Chlosyne californica page Chlosyne californica - California Patch
· Parish Viguiera (Bahiopsis parishii)
Link to Chlosyne lacinia crocale page Chlosyne lacinia crocale - Bordered Patch
· Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Parish Viguiera (Bahiopsis parishii), Rough Cockleburr (Xanthium strumarium)
Link to Chlosyne acastus neumoegeni page Chlosyne acastus neumoegeni - 'Neumoegen's' Sagebrush Checkerspot
· Desert Aster (Xylorhiza tortifolia), Rayless goldenhead (Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus)
Link to Chlosyne gabbii gabbii page Chlosyne gabbii gabbii - Gabb's Checkerspot
· Asters, but especially Corethrogyne filaginifolia.
no photos yet Chlosyne gabbii atrifasciata - Gabb's Checkerspot
Hazardia cana (island hazardia) and Corethrogyne filaginifolia (common sandaster) mentioned in original description; Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands
Link to Chlosyne palla australomontana page Chlosyne palla australomontana - Northern Checkerspot
· Asters, Rabbitbrush
Link to Microtia dymas imperialis page Microtia dymas imperialis - Tiny Checkerspot
· Chuperosa (Justicia californica)
Link to Phyciodes mylitta mylitta page Phyciodes mylitta mylitta - Mylitta Crescent
· Thistles (Cirsium), some other Asters
Link to Phyciodes pulchella pulchella page Phyciodes pulchella pulchella - Field Crescent
· Western Lance-leaf Aster (Aster lanceolatus var. hesperius)
Others
• Athanassa texana texana is a rare stray to southern California.
• Asterocampa celtis appears to be a stray as well, though it may use Hackberry in the E. Mojave and was found in Death Valley in 2012.
• Phyciodes tharos tharos has been extirpated from agricultural areas in Imperial Co.
• Phyciodes phaon jalapeno has disappeared from some, perhaps all, of its known habitat. Status along Colorado River unknown. KD has no records in nearly 30 years.
• Junonia nigrosuffusa apparently rarely strays into California and is in fact an Arizona, New Mexico, Texas butterfly. Because grisea has dark forms - some very dark - there has been confusion about the status of nigrosuffusa in California. True nigrosuffusa has tell-tale marks distinguishing it, the most important of which is pale-clubbed antennae, according to Nick Grishin.
• Ken Davenport lists unnamed segregates for a So. Sierra Nev. population of Phyciodes pulchella; a Euphydryas editha Sherman Pass high elevation population; and a Walker Pass population of editha as well in the Emmel update publication.

Subfamily Satyrinae — Satyrs
Link Butterfly and host plant
Link to Coenonympha california page Coenonympha california california - California Common Ringlet
· Poa pratensis, Koeleria spp.
No photos yet Cercyonis pegala australosierra - Southern Sierra Common Wood-Nymph
Grasses
no photos yet Cercyonis sthenele masoni - 'Mason's' Great Basin Wood Nymph (E. Mojave; Nev.)
Grasses
Link to Cercyonis sthenele behrii page Cercyonis sthenele behrii - 'Behr's' Great Basin Wood Nymph
· Grasses, possibly Elymus elymoides (squirreltail)
no photos yet Cercyonis (sthenele) hypoleuca - Great Basin Wood Nymph
Grasses; Santa Cruz Island
Others
• Ken Davenport mentions a mysterious Santa Barbara Co. population of Cercyonis pegala that is undescribed.
 

©Dennis Walker