Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
North American species / subspecies:
Papilio Nymphalis Phalerata claudia Cramer 1775. Type locality: Jamaica
Papilio clausius Herbst 1798 [Proposed as replacement for P. claudia, which was thought to be preoccupied and invalid.]
Papilio daunius Herbst 1798. Type locality: "Ostindien" (= East Indies); apparently in error, or name is misapplied to this species.
Euptoieta claudia (Cramer) E. Doubleday 1848
Euptoieta bogotana Staudinger 1885. Type locality: Bogota, Colombia
Euptoieta colombia Strecker 1899. Type locality: Colombia
Euptoieta poasina Schaus 1913. Type locality: Costa Rica
Euptoieta claudia dodgei Gunder 1927. Type locality: near Scribner, Dodge County, Nebraska
South American counterpart / species / subspecies:
Argynnis hortensia Blanchard 1852. Type locality: Chile
Argynnis valdiviana Philippi 1859. Type locality: Chile
Euptoieta claudia thekla A. Hall 1919. Type locality: Bolivia
Euptoieta ramirezi Giacomelli 1926. Type locality: Argentina
Euptoieta claudia hortensia (Blanchard)
Euptoieta hortensia (Blanchard)
Explanation of Names
First described in 1776 (some sources say 1775) by
Pieter Cramer as
Papilio ClaudiaNumbers
Number of subspecies recognized varies depending upon individual interpretation [see under "Range" below]. In Central America and Colombia the species tends to be found in isolated populations in mountains, and these have been treated as distinct subspecies (or even species) by some authors. However, they differ little from populations of "typical" subspecies claudia from further north. All material from the area covered by BugGuide is referable to subspecies claudia.
Identification
Orange-brown upper surface edged with black spots. Underside is light brown with a pale postmedian band on the hindwing, and no silver spangles (seen in other fritillaries). Smaller than other fritillaries, closer to a Buckeye in size. Flies low to the ground and is hard to approach. Black-edged light spot near the center of the forewing helps to distinguish this from other fritillaries.
Range
North America south from southern Canada through Central America to Colombia. South American populations from below the Amazon Basin look different and are treated as a distinct subspecies, or in recent years are more often separated as a distinct species - Euptoieta hortensia.
Permanent resident south of roughly 35˚ latitude. Annually spreads and colonizes northward, often into southern Canada. West of Rockies rarely encountered north of Great Basin, and near Pacific Coast rarely north of southern California .
Habitat
Any open sunny area particularly fields and grasslands with flowers present. Caterpillars can often be found on Pansies, Violets, Flax, and Passion Vines in flower gardens.
Season
Four or more overlapping broods in the south, two or three in the north.
Food
Larvae feed on Violets & Pansy (Viola), Flax (Linum), Passion Vine (Passiflora), Damiana (Turnera), Moonseed (Menispermum), Mayapple (Podophyllum), Stonecrop (Sedum), Purslane (Portulaca) and others. Adults are fond of flowers, and especially seem to like Thistles and yellow Composites. They also frequently visit damp ground.
Life Cycle
Multiple generations per year (up to two or three in north, and four or more overlapping broods in south). Only overwinters in southern states. Overwintering stage is debated, but definitely as larvae, which are often found under logs, boards, and rocks during cold, and will wander around looking for food on warm mid-winter days. Perhaps can overwinter in all stages, depending upon the climate of a particular region.
Print References
Butterflies Through Binoculars
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