Black Checkerspot
Chlosyne cyneas (Godman & Salvin, 1878)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside dark brown with brownish-red marginal spots and two neat rows of white spots. Underside white, cream, or yellow with black veins; median black band contains a row of light spots.
Wing Span: 1 3/8 - 1 5/8 inches (3.5 - 4.2 cm).
Life History: Males perch and sometimes patrol during the day on hilltops to find females. Eggs are laid in groups on the underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars feed on leaves and flowers; young ones live together in a loose web. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: Many broods from April-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Brachystigma in Arizona and Seymeria tenuisecta in Mexico. Also Castilleja.
Adult Food: Flower nectar including seep willow.
Habitat: Mountain meadows and openings in Ponderosa pine, oak, and pinyon woods.
Range: Rare in the United States. Southern Mexico north to southeastern Arizona.
Conservation: Conserve as much United States habitat as possible.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Prevent overgrazing and improper logging practices in United States habitats.
Comments: The caterpillar host plant spelling was corrected to Brachystigma from Brachiostygma.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 40 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/high_altitude_checkerspot_8-04-07_cofre_de_perote_veacruz_mx.jpg?itok=FHJiSuGr)
Observation date: Aug 04, 2007
Submitted by: redfishin
Region: Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jan 24, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/black_checkerspot_miller_canyon_sept_22_22_img_8206_4.jpg?itok=lBW7Alj8)
Observation date: Sep 22, 2022
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/black_checkerspot.jpg?itok=kLI7Mzvw)
Observation date: Jul 29, 2022
Submitted by: bjones7777
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Aug 24, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1230027.jpg?itok=j2k8Q8L_)
Observation date: May 21, 2022
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 29, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/checkerspot_black_chlosyne_cyneas_6-14-2020_miller_canyon_huachuca_mts_cochise_co_az_-02.jpg?itok=q8Snyocq)
Observation date: Jun 14, 2020
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 16, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/untitled_1_of_1-56.jpg?itok=LZDNxrx9)
Observation date: Apr 05, 2020
Submitted by: greenecycle
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 05, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/rscn7110.jpg?itok=1xD1kIAR)
Observation date: Jun 12, 2018
Submitted by: Benjamin Miller
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 12, 2018
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Observation date: May 19, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (M. Stangeland-K. Davis)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Apr 15, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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Observation date: Jun 03, 1993
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Oct 08, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (S. Bransky-E. Ballard)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Oct 19, 2007
Submitted by: John Saba (John Saba)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Aug 20, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Apr 07, 2007
Submitted by: John Saba (John Saba)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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Observation date: Oct 30, 2007
Submitted by: John Saba (John Saba)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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Observation date: Jun 24, 1988
Submitted by: charlie covell (Charles Covell)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Oct 06, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (S. Bransky-E. Ballard)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/chlosyne_cyneas_black_checkerspot_2012-05-22_gary_jue_18_crop.jpg?itok=WV06zknI)
Observation date: May 22, 2012
Submitted by: Gary Jue
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 16, 2012
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/chlosyne_cyneas_black_checkerspot_2012-06-03_gary_jue_01_crop.jpg?itok=i6pJCBJc)
Observation date: Jun 03, 2012
Submitted by: Gary Jue
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 16, 2012
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Observation date: Oct 22, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ken Hansen)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Oct 07, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ken Hansen)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jul 26, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ken Hansen)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
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Observation date: Sep 08, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Charles Sekerman)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
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Observation date: Sep 15, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Doug Mullens)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
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