Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Argynnis epithore W.H. Edwards 1864. Type locality: Saratoga, Santa Clara County, California
Boloria epithore (W.H. Edwards)
Brenthis epithore (W.H. Edwards)
Clossiana epithore (W.H. Edwards)
Boloria epithore chermocki E. Perkins & S. Perkins 1966. Type locality: 2.9 miles E of Dolph, Yamhill County, Oregon
Boloria epithore borealis E. Perkins 1973. Type locality: Shingle Creek Road, Keremeos, British Columbia [invalid name; reoccupied by Argynnis thore borealis Staudinger, 1861 Stettiner]
Boloria epithore sierra E. Perkins 1973. Type locality: Sentinel Dome, Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County, California
Boloria epithore uslui Koçak 1984 [replacement for Boloria epithore borealis E. Perkins, with the same data]
Clossiana epithore sigridae J. Shepard 2001. Type locality: Tats Lake, 770 m., St. Elias Mts., British Columbia
Boloria epithore sigridae (J. Shepard)
Often placed in a separate genus Clossiana. However, that genus is currently mostly considered a synonym or subgenus of Boloria.
Identification
Most similar to Boloria kriemhild, frigga, bellona, and improba. B. improba is generally more northern and found higher in mountains, usually in moist tundra, is smaller, darker above, and duller below. B. frigga usually has bolder and more dark coloring above, is often duller and more grayish or bluish below, and has the elongate whitish spot near the base and upper edge of the under hind wing much longer and usually more contrasting. It favors bogs with lots of brush around (particularly Willows). B. bellona favors more open areas and has the front wing shaped differently. All of these species differ from most Boloria in having the submarginal dark spots above pointing outward in the middle, or roughly oval in shape (not pointing inward).
Boloria chariclea has submarginal row of chevron-shaped dark spots pointing inward toward base of wing. In similar-looking B. epithore they point outward.
Boloria kriemhild replaces B. epithore to the southeast in the Rockies. It is very similar, and perhaps just a subspecies. It differs in the pale yellowish band across the under hind wing being usually clear, contrasting, and not obscured by darker brownish scaling. Its habits are the same.
Range
Western Montana and Albert to Pacific Coast and south in near coast to southern California.
Habitat
Mostly in mountains. Favors moist meadowy areas, usually openings in woodlands and forest.
Food
Larval hosts are Viola species. Adults are avid flower visitors.
Life Cycle
Overwinter as young larvae.
