Chalcedon Checkerspot Butterfly, Euphydryas (Occidryas) chalcedona

Larval food sources utilized by the Chalcedon Checkerspot Butterflies

The caterpillars feed on the leaves of plants in the Scrophulariaceae family, such as Monkeyflower, Diplacus and Mimulus species, Bee Plant, Scrophularia species, Chinese Houses, Collinsia heterophylla, and others.

Other larval food plants include Snowberry, Symphoricarpos albus, California Aster, Lessingia filaginifolia, Desert Aster, Machaeranthera tortifolia, Rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus species, Desert Sunflower, Viguiera species, Chuparosa, Justicia californica, Penstemon species, Lippia species, and Thistles, Cirsium species.

The Chalcedon Checkerspots is not frighted easily and is a slow flier. It will usually stay in one place long enough for you to observe them more closely. These butterflies have small, checkered , black, white, cream, orange and yellow markings. The bottom of the Chalcedon Checkerspot's wings are orange with white spots where as the top of the wings are black with orange and white spots. However, individuals may very greatly.

Plant Communities where the Chalcedon Checkerspot Butterflies occurs

These butterflies have been seen in diverse habitats such as oak woodland, mixed evergreen forest, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, riparian areas, and sagebrush scrub.