Chlosyne californica

California patch
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Chlosyne
Species:
C. californica
Binomial name
Chlosyne californica
(W. G. Wright, 1905)
Synonyms
  • Synchloe californica Wright, 1905
  • Chlosyne california ab. chinoi Gunder, 1924

Chlosyne californica, the California patch, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae found in the Southwestern United States and Mexico. It lives in desert washes and canyons in regions between southern Nevada south to southwestern Arizona, southeastern California, Baja California and Sonora.[1]

The wingspan is 1+14–2 inches (32–51 mm). The upper side of the wings is brownish-black at the base and costal edge, with a wide yellow-orange median band and large orange submarginal spots. The underside is similar, with a red spot on the hindwing near the abdomen blending into the median band.[1][2] Adults feed on flower nectar.

The larvae feed on Parish goldeneye (Bahiopsis parishii) and occasionally on sunflowers (Helianthus annuus).[3]

  1. ^ a b "Attributes of Chlosyne californica". butterfliesandmoths.org. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  2. ^ Wright, William Greenwood (1905). "The butterflies of the West Coast of the United States". San Bernardino, California: 170–171. OCLC 6869910. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ "Chlosyne californica (W. G. Wright, 1905) (California Patch)". Butterflies of America. Retrieved 19 May 2014.