Range:
This is a widespread species, which ranges from Alaska south and east across
the southern half of Canada, and through most of the continental U.S. except
for parts of California and Florida. It occurs throughout all of Idaho.
Habitat:
It can be found in many varieties of open areas, including
meadows, fields, and pastures.
Diet:
Caterpillar:
Caterpillars eat the leaves of members of the pea family (Fabaceae), such
as clovers (Trifolium spp.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa).
Adult:
Butterflies drink flower nectar.
Ecology:
There are generally three generations of caterpillars in the
northern part of its range, and up to five in the south. The last brood of caterpillars
of the season overwinters in a physiological state called diapause. Adults generally fly from May to October.
Reproduction:
Males actively patrol
for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on the leaves of host plants
.
Conservation:
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Global Rank: |
G5; populations are widespread, abundant, and secure. |
Opler, P. A., H. Pavulaan, and R. E. Stanford. 1995. Butterflies of North America. Jamestown, North Dakota, USA: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Home Page. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/bflyusa.htm (Version 05Nov98).
Opler, P. A. and A. B.Wright. 1999. A Field Guide to the Western Butterflies. Second Edition. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, New York, USA, 540 pp.
Pyle, R. M. 1981. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, New York, USA, 924 pp.
Scott, J. A. 1986. The Butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California, USA, 583 pp.
Stanford, R. E. and P. A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western U.S.A. Butterflies (Including Adjacent Parts of Canada and Mexico). Published by authors, Denver, Colorado, USA, 275 pp.