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Edith's Checkerspot

Euphydryas editha

UncommonInsect & Arthropod
Illustration of Edith's Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha)

Edith's Checkerspot is a small, vividly checkered butterfly of the western United States with a mosaic of red, orange, yellow, and black patches. It is one of the most studied butterflies in ecology and evolutionary biology, famous for research on population dynamics and range shifts in response to climate change. Different subspecies specialize on different host plants across its range.

Habitat
Open rocky hillsides, serpentine grasslands, and alpine meadows
Diet
Larvae: paintbrush, plantain, and owl's clover. Adults: nectar
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Edith's Checkerspot

The best time to see a Edith's Checkerspot is May–July, when about 72% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 3,587 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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