Range:
This species ranges from southern British Columbia and Alberta south to California,
Arizona, and New Mexico; it extends east as far as Wyoming and Colorado. It
occurs through most of Idaho.
Habitat:
It can be found in meadows, forests, and woodlands.
Diet:
Caterpillar:
Caterpillars feed on the leaves of native species in the mustard family
(Brassicaceae).
Adult:
Butterflies drink flower nectar, often from host plants.
Ecology:
There are two generations of caterpillars each year. Caterpillars of the second generation pupate, then overwinter within their chrysalises in a physiological state called diapause. Adults generally fly from May through August in most of its range.
Reproduction:
Males actively patrol
in search of receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on the undersides of
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.
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.