Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Thessalia cyneas
Included in
Chlosyne by Wahlberg and Zimmerman in 2000. See synonymy notes and literature references on
this page from Butterflies of America site.
Described in 1882 by Godman and Salvin, who originally placed it in genus Phyciodes.
Type locality: “Mexico, mountains of Oaxaca”
Identification
Adult: upperside dark brown with brownish-red marginal spots and two neat rows of white spots; underside white, cream, or yellow with black veins and margin; postmedian black band contains a row of light spots; marghinal fringe checkered black and white.
[description copied from butterfliesandmoths.org]
Range
southern Arizona and New Mexico, south through Mexico
Habitat
mountain meadows and openings in pine and oak woodlands
Season
adults fly from April to September in United States
Food
larvae feed on
desert foxglove (
Brachystigma),
Santa Catalina Indian Paintbrush (
Castilleja tenuiflora), and
blacksenna (
Seymeria)
adults feed on flower nectar
Life Cycle
several generations per year; eggs are laid in groups on underside of hostplant leaves; larvae feed on leaves and flowers; young larvae live together in loose web; overwinters as a third-instar larva
Internet References
species account including photos of adults, larvae, foodplants, and habitat, plus synonymy and literature references (Butterflies of America)
species account including live adult image by Paul Opler, description, biology, flight season, food, habitat, status, distribution map (butterfliesandmoths.org)
live adult images by A. Madero in Mexico (North American Butterfly Association)
distribution giving presence in New Mexico (NatureServe Explorer)