Coenonympha tullia california

Westwood, 1851

California Ringlet

Coenonympha tullia california is a of the Common Ringlet , historically found in low-elevation areas of central and northern California. According to long-term by UC Davis professor Art Shapiro, this subspecies was regionally extirpated from the Sacramento Valley and surrounding lowlands by 2007, becoming one of several butterfly to disappear from Shapiro's study transect between Chico and Stockton. The decline is attributed to climate change disrupting cues and exposure, particularly neonicotinoids. The subspecies exemplifies broader patterns of butterfly collapse documented across North America.

California ringlet (26340543612) by Melissa McMasters from Memphis, TN, United States. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Coenonympha tullia by Linda Tanner. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Coenonympha tullia california: /ˌsɛˌnoʊˈnɪmfə ˈtʌliə ˌkælɪˈfɔːrniə/

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

Identification

Difficult to distinguish from other C. tullia without geographic context and expert examination. Historical identification relied on collection locality in low-elevation central and northern California. Now effectively unidentifiable in the wild within its former core range due to regional extirpation.

Images

Appearance

-sized satyrine with rounded . surface with variable pattern on ; surface typically shows more prominent . california historically distinguished by phenotypic traits associated with low-elevation California , though specific diagnostic features require expert examination.

Habitat

Historically occupied low-elevation grasslands and open in the Sacramento Valley and adjacent foothills. Associated with areas supporting larval grasses. Specific microhabitat requirements poorly documented.

Distribution

Formerly widespread in low-elevation areas of central and northern California from approximately Chico to Stockton. Now regionally extirpated from this core range; current status of any remaining unknown. GBIF records indicate broader North and European presence for the , but california is to California.

Seasonality

Multi-brooded; period historically extended through much of the warm season. Specific undocumented due to collapse prior to detailed study.

Human Relevance

Serves as a case study in climate-driven collapse. Its 2007 regional extirpation from the Sacramento Valley was documented through one of the longest continuous programs in North America (Art Shapiro, UC Davis, 1972–present). The illustrates how -temperature mismatches disrupt decisions, leading to population failure.

Similar Taxa

Coenonympha tullia other subspeciesMorphologically similar; distinguished historically by geographic range in low-elevation California rather than discrete phenotypic characters

More Details

Regional extirpation

Art Shapiro's data show the California Ringlet persisted longer than co-occurring declining (Field Crescent, Great , Large Marble), surviving until 2007 before disappearing from all low-elevation study sites.

Climate mechanism

Shapiro attributes the decline to -temperature decoupling: warmer temperatures require longer nights to induce , but photoperiod remains fixed by calendar date. This mismatch disrupts the decision critical for multi-brooded survival.