Identification: Upperside tawny orange with thick dark veins and markings; black spots near margin. Hindwing margin angled and slightly scalloped. Underside of hindwing with a mottled pattern and no silver spots. Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 3 1/8 inches (4.5 - 8 cm). Life History: Males patrol short distances in flat, dry, open places. Eggs are laid singly on host plant stems and leaves; caterpillars eat leaves and flowers. Flight: Three broods from April-October in the north, four broods from February or March-November or December in the south. Caterpillar Hosts: A variety of plants in several families including maypops (Passiflora incarnata), may apple (Podophyllum peltata), violets (Viola), purslane (Portulaca), stonecrop (Sedum), and moonseed (Menispermum). Adult Food: Nectar from several plant species including butterflyweed, common milkweed, dogbane, peppermint, red clover, swamp milkweed, and tickseed sunflower. Habitat: Open sunny areas such as prairies, fields, pastures, road edges, landfills. Range: Higher elevations of Argentina through Central America and Mexico to the southern United States; also Cuba and Jamaica. Regularly colonizes north through most of the United States except the Pacific Northwest. Conservation: Not required. An occasional minor pest of ornamental pansies and violets.

Santa Catalina Mountains
Willow Canyon.
Location: On Tagetes lemmonii in wash beside connector road.
10/18/17

See Butterflies and Moths of North America Pictures and Description