Nymphalidae: Brushfoot Butterflies

Subfamily Libytheinae — Snouts
Link Butterfly and host plant
Link to Libytheana carinenta streckeri page Libytheana carinenta streckeri - American Snout
Hackberry Trees (Celtis spp.)

Subfamily Danainae — Monarchs
Link to page with photographs and information about Danaus plexippus - the monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus plexippus - Monarch
Milkweeds (Asclepias) inc. speciosa, fascicularis, tuberosa, californica, subulata, eriocarpa
Link to Danaus gilippus thersippus page - Queen butterflies Danaus gilippus thersippus - Striated Queen
Milkweeds (Asclepias ssp.) inc. fascicularis, tuberosa, subulata and Climbing Milkweeds such as 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 eulalia page Adelpha eulalia - Arizona Sister
Oaks, likely Canyon Oak (Quercus chrysolepis) in CA.
Link to Adelpha californica page Adelpha californica - California Sister
Quercus chrysolepis, Coast Live Oak (Q. agrifolia)
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
Link to Speyeria coronis semiramis page Speyeria coronis semiramis - "Semiramis' Coronis Fritillary
Violets
Link to Speyeria coronis hennei page Speyeria coronis hennei - 'Henne's' Coronis Fritillary
Violets
link to Speyeria zerene monticola page Speyeria zerene monticola - Zerene Fritillary
Violets
Link to Speyeria callippe comstocki page Speyeria callippe comstocki - 'Comstock's' Callippe Fritillary
Violets
Link to Speyeria callippe macaria page Speyeria callippe macaria - 'Macaria' Callippe Fritillary
Violets
No photos yet Speyeria callippe laurina - Unsilvered Macaria Fritillary
Violets
Link to page with photographs of Speyeria egleis egleis Speyeria egleis egleis - Great Basin Fritillary
Violets
No photos yet Speyeria adiaste clemencei - Clemence's Fritillary
Violets - SLO Co.
Link to Speyeria hydaspe viridicornis page Speyeria hydaspe viridicornis - Greenhorn Hydaspe Fritillary
Violets
Link to Speyeria mormonia mormonia page Speyeria mormonia mormonia - Mormon Fritillary
Violets
Others
• Speyeria egleis tehachapina and Speyeria 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
no photos yet Euphydryas editha insularis - Edith's Checkerspot
Link to Euphydryas editha augustina page Euphydryas editha augustina - 'August' 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)
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
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 wrighti page Chlosyne leanira wrighti - '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
Parish Viguiera (Bahiopsis parishii), Western Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
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, usually Corethrogyne flaginifolia.
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
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