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Chlosyne palla Scudder, 1872
Checkerspots; Northern Checkerspot
Family: Nymphalidae (Brushfoots)
Species account authors: Crispin Guppy and Jon Shepard.
Extracted from Butterflies of British Columbia.
Introduction to the Lepidoptera of BC
Introduction to the Butterflies of BC
The Families of Lepidoptera of BC

Photograph

© Norbert Kondla     (Photo ID #5794)

Map

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Distribution of Chlosyne palla in British Columbia.
(Click on the map to view a larger version.)
Source: Butterflies of British Columbia by Crispin Guppy and Jon Shepard © Royal BC Museum

Species Information


Adult

The Northern Checkerspot is usually not found in the same habitat as other Charidryas species in BC, thus the species is easily identified by the generic characteristics. It is usually found below 1,250 m, whereas the other two species are found from 1,250-2,200 m.

Immature Stages

The mature larva is dull black, with five rows of branching tubercles (Emmel and Emmel 1973).

Subspecies

BC populations are the Calydon Checkerspot, C.p. calydon (Holland, 1931) (TL: Turkey Cr. Jet., CO), a Rocky Mountain subspecies.

Genus Description


The name Charidryas is derived from the Greek chara (joy or delight) and dryas or Dryad (wood nymph) (Emmet 1991). Hence these checkerspots are delightful Dryads. The name "checkerspots" is derived from the checkerboard pattern of the upperside of the wings.

Like the crescents, the Charidryas checkerspots have the saccus present in the male genitalia. The BC species are larger than BC species of crescents except the Pale Crescent, which is as large as Charidryas checkerspots. The coloured spots in the dorsal wing pattern are more orange than those of Phyciodes. The larvae feed on various composites.

Biology


The Northern Checkerspot flies from late June to early August. Guppy found eggs on native Aster at Botanie Valley and reared them on cultivated asters. Emmel and Emmel (1973) report another composite plant genus, Chrysothamnus, as a larval foodplant.

Habitat


The Northern Checkerspot is found in the Chilcotin, Southern Interior, and Kootenays in mesic meadows and riparian habitat in low valleys up to 1,500 m in open, drier slopes. It is also known from the Peace River area. At higher elevations it is replaced by either Whitney's Checkerspot or Hoffman's Checkerspot.

Distribution

Distribution

The Northern Checkerspot occurs from southern BC and the BC Peace region south to southern CA and CO.

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
NativeS5YellowNot Listed



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

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