Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Argynnis adiaste W. H. Edwards, 1864. Type locality: "California"; restricted to Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, California” by dos Passos and Grey (1947); however, the species actually occurs not in the city, but in the mountains nearby
Argynnis adiante Boisduval, 1896 [? seems likely that this is a mispelling of adiaste ?]. Type locality: “au bord des bois, dans la partie orientale de la Californie” [Lectotype specimen is same as for A. adiaste].
named subspecies:
Argynnis atossa W. H. Edwards, 1890. Type locality: about 4 miles from Tehachapi, Kern County, California
---= Speyeria egleis atossa (W. H. Edwards) dos Passos & Grey, 1947
---= Speyeria adiaste clemencei (W. H. Edwards)
---= Argynnis atossa form tejonica Comstock, 1922. Type locality: Collins Ranch,
------Tejon region, Los Angeles County, California. A name applied to rare individuals
------with silvered spots below [has no valid standing in priorities as a zoological
------name; published as a forma]
Speyeria egleis clemencei dos Passos & Grey, 1947. Type locality: west of Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County, California
---= Argynnis adiaste race clemencei J. A. Comstock, 1925
---= Speyeria adiaste clemencei (dos Passos & Grey) [this authorship and date has
------no valid standing in priorities as a zoological name; published as a forma]
Alligned by dos Passos and Grey (1947) with Speyeria egleis as subspecies, but treated by current authors as a distinct species. Recent molecular studies point to a close relationship with S. hydaspe, as apposed to S. egleis. The color pattern and structure of the butterflies also seems closer to S. hydaspe than to S. egleis, but with the coloring much paler and less contrasting in S. adiaste.
Explanation of Names
Three subspecies are recognized, with subspecies adiaste occuring in the north (pale brownish below), subspecies clemencei further south (not reliably distinguishable except by locality, but averaging slightly paler), and southernmost atossa (very pale below, sometimes almost cream color) n. Ventera, n. Los Angeles County and sw. Kern County. The last is suspected to be extinct, probably do to habitat degredation. It was reported as abundant up to the 1920's, but was apparently last seen in the Tehachapi Mountains in 1959.
Has been associated with S. egleis, but actually not very similar, and not closely related.
Identification
Easily identified by where found, broad squarish wings, pale coloring with relatively delicate black patterning above and barely contrasting pattern on a tan ventral.
Closely related to S. hydaspe and displacing it to the south. Quite similar, but with much more washed out less contrasting pattern, and paler less reddish coloring.
Range
In near coastal Mountains of southern California from San Mateo County south to San Luis Obispo County, east to southwest Kern County.
Season
Adults mostly in June - July, females sometimes seen as late as September
