Harris's Checkerspot - Chlosyne harrisii

Maybe Silvery Checkerspot?

Hi Sandy and Lloyd

It's nice to see your photos. I've never seen a Harris's and have only one encounter with Silvery, so this is just of interest. There's a discussion of field marks at the link below, particularly the black hindwing spots touching the black margin. The inner half of the forewing looks much different in a lot of photos I've looked at, but no expert says that's diagnostic. Maybe someone with more experience can give me some insight.

John

… John Fox, 3 August, 2006 - 9:44pm

checkerspot

For dorsal view of Harris' "Orange field with wide dark borders, darkest further south, more orange northward. Black submarginal HW dots are at least slightly white-centered, as in Silvery.
Hope this helps. Sandy

… Lloyd and Sandy Spitalnik, 19 August, 2006 - 6:59pm

checkerspot

Hi John,
A friend who's been watching butterflies for many years also thought Harris' for this one. He said altho difficult to tell apart, Silvery usually has more orange, and this individual shows a lot of black.

Acc to 'Butterflies of the East Coast' by Rick Cech/Guy Tudor-
For dorsal view of Silvery it says "Orange above with distinct dark borders. Note dark FW tips, usually with little orange intrusion. One or two dark spots in the HW submarginal band have white centers".
Will continue

… Lloyd and Sandy Spitalnik, 19 August, 2006 - 6:51pm

Another tough group, I guess.

Hi Sandy

These groups with intermediate markings just take experience, like Crescents. Being near a known colony of Harris' is probably enough to rely on. Thanks for following up, it's good to know a little more.

John

… John Fox, 20 August, 2006 - 8:10pm

Harris' Checkerspot

Hi John, Well Lloyd and I have just the opposite checkerspot experience as you - we've never seen a silvery, and have seen Harris' for the first time this June. There is a small breeding colony where these pics were taken (I've attached a ventral view). It looks like there was some disagreement on the ID of the one you attached in the link, but unfortunately we're no experts on separating these 2 species. We can ask some more knowledgable friends to have a look tho.
Regards, Sandy

… Lloyd and Sandy Spitalnik, 4 August, 2006 - 12:32pm