Northern Checkerspot
Chlosyne palla (Boisduval, 1852)

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Diagnosis: This and the next three species of similar-looking western checkerspots, and two more in the U.S., are referred to as the palla group. The Northern Checkerspot is a small to medium-sized (wingspan: 30 to 42 mm) member of its genus with a red-brown upper surface marked by fine black lines and spots giving it a "spider's web" appearance. The hindwing has a dark base. Females have two colour forms, one similar to the male and the other dark with white markings. The underside is orange with cream to yellow spot bands.

Subspecies: Subspecies calydon, in which males and females have bright orange spots on a dark brown background, occurs in most of the range in Canada. Subspecies sterope, which has paler, more yellow spots above, and has very dark females, occurs on sagebrush slopes in the southern Okanagan Valley of British Columbia.

Range: This checkerspot ranges from California and Colorado north into western Canada. It is widespread in the Rocky Mountains and in the British Columbia interior north to Soda Creek, and in the Peace River District of British Columbia and Alberta, north to Fort Vermillion.

Similar Species: This butterfly can be easily confused with the others of the palla group, acastus, damoetas, and hoffmanni. [compare images]

Early Stages: The mature larva is black, with many spines and with white spots and orange dashes along the body. Subspecies calydon is reported feeding on Indian paintbrush (Castilleja spp., Scrophulariaceae) and sterope on Rabbit-brush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) at Osoyoos, British Columbia.

Abundance: The Northern Checkerspot is reported as locally common at mid-elevations in the mountains.

Flight Season: In British Columbia, the Northern Checkerspot flies in May, June, and July depending on elevation. Alberta records are from mid-June to early August.

Habits: This tends to be a species of mountain clearings and valleys at mid-elevations. It is fast flying and likes to bask in the sunshine as well as sip moisture from wet spots on the ground.

Remarks: There has been a great deal of confusion regarding the classification and identification of the members of the palla group. Species definitions have varied with time and some old records are suspect. Acorn (1993) recommends using habitat and location in identification of species, since they do not overlap in habitat preference in Alberta. Records of palla in Saskatchewan (Hooper, 1973) are the next species, acastus, which is found in dryland areas.

© 2002. This material is reproduced with permission from The Butterflies of Canada by Ross A. Layberry, Peter W. Hall, and J. Donald Lafontaine. University of Toronto Press; 1998. Specimen photos courtesy of John T. Fowler.

The Toronto Entomologists' Association thanks Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for providing the content and computer code for this web page.