Range:
This species ranges from southern British Columbia southeast to northern Arizona
and northwestern Colorado, extending east as far as central Montana and western
Nebraska. It occurs in sections of Idaho
scattered throughout the state.
Habitat:
It occurs most frequently in fields, dry streambeds, valleys,
and canyons.
Diet:
Caterpillar:
Caterpillars feed on the leaves of certain thistles in the genus Cirsium.
Adult:
Butterflies drink flower nectar from yellow flowers belonging to the sunflower
family (Asteraceae).
Ecology:
There is one generation of caterpillars each summer. Young
caterpillars feed in groups. The overwintering stage is unreported. Adults generally
fly from the end of April to July, and
from August through October.
Reproduction:
Males perch and
rarely patrol
for receptive females. Females lay groups of eggs on the undersides of host plant leaves.
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.