variable checkerspot ~ 05/27/14 ~ Pinnacles

variable checkerspot / chalcedon checkerspot

Euphydryas chalcedona

(Shapiro and Tenney)

I'm determined to learn the local butterflies like the back of my hand, but distinguishing look-alike spp. can sometimes trip me up.  Identifying photos is very different than identifying them on the wing, and I want to improve my skills for both methods.  Several have argued with me that it is impossible to tell sp. based only on a photo.  Hogwash.  I'll admit, I want to disprove the detractors, but I could end up being completely wrong.  It certainly helps as I do this exercise that I have the added benefit of having watched the live butterfly and am focusing primarily on one location through the season.

I'm of the belief that it simply takes a differently trained eye to ID photos compared to the traditional examination of a series of pinned and spread specimens.  Emphasis on trained.  I've noticed the classic lepidopterists will most likely describe the topside view of the butterfly as they're most predominantly pinned and spread, compared to what's actually seen out in the wild.  I tend to capture pictures of the underside with the wings held up above the body.  So, guess which side needs to get the description for diagnostics as we transition from specimen identification to photo identification?  

From what I can tell from my photos, both variable above and Edith's look like the underside forewing's 3rd-4th row from the margin have 2 distinct patterns.  I would have thought the two above might be sexually dimorphic with the female facing left, but it can't be.  You know why?  The going assumption is that only male butterflies mud-puddle.  Seriously.  FYI, the only females in our area that are known to mud-puddle are CA sister.  So, we presumably have two males above.  Check.

I have to say, I really want the 2nd photo facing left and the redder of the two to be Edith's.  Red flash = red underside FW.  Nope.  Glassberg says in his west binoc book that Edith's "always lack white, off-center abdominal spots that variable checkerspots sometimes have."  Indeed, there are obvious off-center abdominal spots evident in both pictures.  Just to make sure the local ssp. of Edith's might not break that rule, I double-checked with Art and Paul J.  They both confirm that they believe the two individuals shown above are E. chalcedona, not E. editha, primarily by overall gut feeling.  Paul says, "Around here, variable always* has those spots, and Edith's always has orange rings.  *Always = unless the individual is very worn and the spots/rings are gone.  Remember, these comments apply to the top half of the abdomen."  Art also uses the all-orange antennal bulbs as indicators of variable like I do.  I've noticed shading is often present, and sometimes it's a judgment call if they're considered black like in Edith's.  Also, note the white stripes on orange antennal stems, not white stripes on black antennal stems like in Edith's.

Really, out in the field, there's a third way to describe what's seen as the butterfly is in flight.  Flashes of color will often present themselves that are not obvious from a still photo of either the top or bottom sides.  Variable at Pinnacles flash black and lemon yellow to me.  Edith's flash reddish-orange checks.  Sigh, I know this seems like a lot, but I want to make sure I have my basics down pat.

variable checkerspot ~ 05/23/14 ~ Pinnacles

variable checkerspot / chalcedon checkerspot

Euphydryas chalcedona

(Shapiro and Tenney)

I love the face she's giving me, as if she's sticking out her tongue.  Technically, what I call "tongue" is her proboscis, a long, coiled and extendable mouthpart that functions like a drinking straw to suck up various liquids, such as nectar from flowers, water from mud, and moisture from poop (or so I've heard - I used to have a volunteer who would travel with domestic cat poo in a baggie for just this purpose...  I wonder how he explained at customs?).  With enough patience and a quick trick, I find butterflies are regularly agreeable to climbing on my finger so that I can take a closer look.  Paul took a picture of me with her on my finger.  I think he found my doing this rather peculiar. 

If it's not obvious from my photos, I prefer not to carry a net.  More traditional lepidopterists use a net to either collect and/or catch and release for a closer look.  This can be a legal issue in public parks or in areas where endangered butterfly species are found.  I'm still solely a collector of photographs (and trailside litter, especially glass bottles).  I'll admit that I've been dragging my feet writing up a request to obtain a collecting permit, which will also cover any primary catch and release activities for my project.  Eh, I'm in no hurry to start hauling around a bunch of collecting crap up and down hot hills.  Carrying enough water for myself is heavy enough, thank you (136 fl oz = 8.5 lbs ≈ 4 L ≈ >1 gallon ≈ 8 hours for me).  Photographs are working just fine for my needs right now.

Note her dark topside, which is very typical of the variable checkerspots found at Pinnacles.  This individual also shows solidly colored pumpkin-orange antennae, compared to the look-alike Edith's checkerspot, which has black-striped stems dipped in various curry colors at the tips. I find it impossible to distinguish the underside patterns between the two look-alikes in photos.  However, when both of these butterflies are on the wing together at Pinnacles and can be seen chasing each other, the variable flashes black and yellow, while the Edith's has a definite reddish background color.

Oh, I should mention that I'm not 100% positive she's a she.  I'm only guessing based on the hefty girth of the abdomen (fatty, fatty).  Honestly, I don't know how to sex most butterflies. Some can be obviously sexually dimorphic, but I have to be careful when there are look-alike spp. found in the same area and flying at the same time (there's a practical distinction between physical and temporal proximity), when one sex looks like the opposite sex of another sp.  It's a strange phenomena that I'm starting to notice.

As a last note, I generally don't use the name chalcedon to ID this butterfly.  It's the Bay Area folks from whom I first heard the name, probably to distinguish it from the federally threatened Bay checkerspot, which they do not call Edith's, btw, even though it is.  Plus, I mangle the pronunciation of chalcedon.

Edith's checkerspots ~ 05/23/14 ~ Pinnacles

mating Edith's checkerspot
mating Euphydryas editha
(Shapiro and Tenney)

I call this butterfly p0rn.  It's a bit perverted, I know, but the term tickles my funny bone, so it stays.  Sigh.  It was initially challenging for me to distinguish between the look-alike Edith's and variable checkerspots, mainly because the variable are indeed quite variable from place to place.  Paul was helpful in pointing out how much redder the Edith's look on the wing, compared to the very dark version of variable found at Pinnacles.  Also, in nice close-up photos (click pic to enlarge), notice the black-striped antennal stems with clubs dipped in curry colors, compared to the completely solid pumpkin-orange of the variable checkerspot (this may also be variable, unfortunately).  I'm making the guess that the female is on the left and the male is on the right, based on whose belly is hanging down, looking a little pregnant (i.e., filled with fat and eggs).  They're getting their groove on perched on blooming woolly yerba santa (the butterfly version of the neighborhood pick up joint).

ps 05/31/14 - Considering it is so hard to differentiate variable from Edith's, I asked Dr. Shaprio's opinion on these.  He said, "But the mating pair may be editha. Can't see the abdomens, but the antennae match editha, and the male has a vaguely 'cold' yellow color that is editha-ish, as well as a rather rounded FW apex."  Based on the photo samples he sent me, the female is on the left like I guessed, and the rounder FW apex male (it's hard for me to "see" this) is on the right.  To me the female FW is wider and less pointy than the male's.  Paul mentioned that at Pinnacles, Editha's tend to have orange rings on the top side of the abdomen.  There are rings shown here, but both sp. can have them on the underside of the abdomen, so that's not conclusive.  Does this make sense?  Overall vote, Edith's checkerspot.

variable checkerspot ~ 05/02/10 ~ Fort Ord

variable checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona

I have many pictures of the variable checkerspot for the simple fact they hold still long enough to take a halfway decent picture of them. I don't actually see them as often as my pictures suggest in relation to other butterflies.

variable checkerspot ~ 05/08/09 ~ Pinnacles

variable checkerspot butterfly on Brewer's ragwort / Brewer's butterweed
Euphydryas chalcedona on Packera breweri

From my days of butterfly monitoring in Ohio, I always found Euphydryas sp. (Baltimores in OH) to be "friendly" and extremely cute with their brightly colored antennal clubs. They are voracious nectarers, don't seem to mind being touched or held, and will often follow you down the path.

True to its "variable" common name, this butterfly's appearance is highly variable with a top view that can range from predominantly black to predominantly orange. It doesn't help when seeing them on the wing that the underside is equally patterned and gorgeously orange. Larvae feed in Indian paintbrushes. There's a slight chance this one is Euphydryas editha, but in other pics I think I can see white spots on the abdomen. Glassberg says Edith's checkerspots are often impossible to distinguish in the field from variable checkerspots.

Brewer's ragwort and variable checkerspots were extremely abundant along the Juniper Canyon Trail. See our eastside Pinnacles visit April 16, 2009 for variable checkerspot caterpillars.

Edith's checkerspot caterpillar ~ 04/16/09 ~ Pinnacles

Edith's checkerspot caterpillar feeding on Indian warrior
Euphydryas editha feeding on Pedicularis densiflora
Orobanchaceae (formerly Scrophulariaceae)

Edited 05/24/14 - I originally posted this as variable checkerspot caterpillar (Euphydryas chalcedona).  When we went back 3 weeks later (from the westside on May 8, 2009, not the eastside as shown here), adult variable checkerspots were everywhere on flowers and mud puddles!  

Then, last year I went out with our local Monterey butterfly guy Chris Tenney, and he recalled Paul Johnson had told him Edith's feeds on Indian warrior, whereas variable is actually variable in its host preferences.  I have since confirmed directly with Paul that he has observed this host difference between these two look-alike local checkerspots. He's quite good at distinguishing adult Edith's from variable on the wing.  I changed the ID above from variable to Edith's.  Plus, I've seen first-hand both spp. flying together, so that May 2009 visit may very well have both on the wing.  Thanks, Paul!

variable checkerspot ~ 05/27/06 ~ Garland Ranch

variable checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona

I am always amazed at how variable these checkerspots really are!

Gabb's checkerspot ~ 05/27/06 ~ Garland Ranch

Gabb's checkerspot
Chlosyne gabbii

I'm fairly sure about this ID, even though I have never heard of Gabb's until I looked it up. If anyone has any additional thoughts, please let me know!

ps 03/07/10 - Art Shapiro confirmed my ID.