Silvery Checkerspot
(Chlosyne nycteis)
True Brushfoots
Appearance: Larger than Pearl Crescent. Above, yellow-orange with wide black margins. The black submarginal spots are usually surrounded by orange.Below, hindwing is brownish with a white median band and a pronounced brown smudge at lower corner of hindwing containing white spots and crescents.
Wingspan: Medium; 1 3/8 to 2 inches.
Habitat: Stream edges in open country, moist woodland openings, meadows.
Flight Times: May to September; two broods. Males perch and patrol all day in open areas.
Larval Foodplant: Many different composites including Goldenglow (Rudbeckia) and possibly other members in the sunflower family.
Did You Know…
Females lay eggs in batches of about 100 on the underside of host plant leaves. Young caterpillars move in groups as they consume the leaves. Partially-grown caterpillars hibernate. Checkerspots are larger than the similar crescents. The common name “silvery” refers to the silvery white coloration at the base of the hindwing which is not easily seen.
