Chlosyne acastus neumoegeni

Neumoegen's Sagebrush Checkerspot

Chlosyne acastus neumoegeni males are often found in the spring patrolling desert washes around their larval food plants, generally Mojave aster (Xylorhiza tortifolia) and rayless goldenhead (Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus). I've seen larvae feeding on flowers, sometimes covered with pollen. With good summer rains, they may have a brood late in the year, and I saw some flying in a wash in the Johnson Valley in October of 2022. As with other Chlosyne checkerspots, these feed on their host asters in the early instars, then go into diapause as a mid instar caterpillar. They resume feeding when conditions allow, usually the following spring. Early on larvae are gregarious, but the late instars are usually found alone. When caterpillars are fully developed, they leave the plant to pupate and adults emerge a couple of weeks later.