Subspecies Euphydryas chalcedona colon

Very similar to ssp. chalcedona, differing primarily more northerly distribution, and in having the postmedian row of white (or orange) spots (the row just outside of the middle row), reduced or even absent on the upper hind wing. This leaves an overall darker appearance to the insect in most individuals.

Cascades of Washington to extreme northern California.

There is disagreement on whether northern populations (basically north from California) should be separated as a separate species, Euphydryas colon, or just considered subspecies of E. chalcedona. The division seems to be totally arbitrary, with no obvious place where one stops and the other begins. Two of the better known regional treatments consider these northern populations to be subspecies of chalcedona yet maintain E. anicia as a distinct species. This seems closest to reality.

see:

'Butterflies of British Columbia', 2001, Crispin S. Guppy & Jon H. Shepard

'The Butterflies of Cascadia', 2002, Robert Michael Pyle

'Scientific Names List for Butterfly Species of North America, north of Mexico', 2003, Paul A. Opler

'Butterflies of Oregon, Their Taxonomy, Distribution, and Biology', 2005, Andrew D. Warren