Euphydryas anicia cloudcrofti

Distinguished from other Euphydryas checkerspots by its restricted geographic occurrence in the Sacramento Mountains. Specific wing pattern characters separating it from nominate E. anicia and other subspecies are not detailed in available sources.

High-elevation coniferous forest in the Sacramento Mountains, specifically associated with montane habitats near Cloudcroft, New Mexico. Occurs in areas with Quercus gambelii (Gambel oak) and associated montane vegetation.

Endemic to the Sacramento Mountains of Otero County, New Mexico. Known from the vicinity of Cloudcroft and surrounding high-elevation areas in the Lincoln National Forest.

• Cotesia - parasitoidBraconidae wasp that parasitizes late instar larvae; studied for larva survival under attack

Late instar larvae are vulnerable to parasitoid attack by Cotesia wasps. Specific details of egg, early larval, pupal, and adult stages are not documented in available sources.

Subject of conservation concern; currently proposed for listing on the U.S. Endangered Species List. A small protected area with caged food plots has been established for the subspecies. Research interest due to parasitoid-host interaction dynamics.

• Euphydryas aniciaNominate species; cloudcrofti was originally described as a subspecies but has been treated under different generic combinations (Occidryas vs. Euphydryas)
• Euphydryas phaetonAnother checkerspot species in the same genus with similar habitat preferences in some regions, though not sympatric with cloudcrofti

• endemic
• endangered species candidate
• parasitoid host
• montane
• New Mexico endemic

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• Mantispidae | Beetles In The Bush
• July | 2024 | Beetles In The Bush
• Observations of late instar larva survival of Cotesia (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitoid attack of Euphydryas anicia cloudcrofti (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)