Chlosyne palla

(Boisduval, 1852)

Northern Checkerspot

Species Guides

7

Chlosyne palla, the northern checkerspot, is a North American in the Nymphalidae. have a wingspan of 30–48 mm and display a distinctive checkered pattern of dark brown, light orange, and tan on the upperside, with alternating red and yellow on the underside. The has one period annually, occurring from April to July depending on elevation and latitude. Caterpillars feed on goldenrod, rabbitbrush, and asters.

NW121-13 Chlosyne palla (3429447385) by NSG group from Lund, Sweden. Used under a CC0 license.Chlosyne palla by CATCTATTACCAC. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.NW122-15 Chlosyne palla (3429450801) by NSG group from Lund, Sweden. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Chlosyne palla: /kloʊˈsaɪni ˈpælə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

may be confused with sagebrush checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus) and Hoffmann's checkerspot (Chlosyne hoffmanni), which share the palla group wing pattern. Distinguishing features require close examination of pattern details and geographic context. The combination of upperside dark brown, light orange, and tan checkering with underside red and yellow is characteristic.

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Habitat

Found in open, sunny including meadows, grasslands, and areas with plants. Associated with goldenrod, rabbitbrush, and aster . Occurs from low elevations to mountainous areas, with timing shifting later at higher elevations and more northerly latitudes.

Distribution

Western North America from southern British Columbia and Alberta south to California, Utah, and Colorado. Not recorded from Nevada.

Seasonality

One annually. active April to May at lower elevations and southerly areas; extends to July in mountainous or northerly regions.

Diet

Caterpillars feed on goldenrod (Solidago), rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus), and asters. diet not specified in available sources.

Host Associations

  • Solidago - food plantcaterpillar
  • Chrysothamnus - food plantcaterpillar , rabbitbrush
  • Asteraceae - food plantcaterpillar , asters

Life Cycle

(one per year). Caterpillars feed on plants before pupating. emerge for single period. Specific details of placement, larval instars, site, and stage not documented in available sources.

Similar Taxa

More Details

Taxonomic Note

Originally described as Melitaea palla by Boisduval in 1852; later transferred to Chlosyne.

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Sources and further reading