California Dogface

The male of this species has the distinction of being the state butterfly for California.

My spouse and I have only seen this butterfly once, and that was at the enclosed live butterfly exhibit at The Living Desert Zoo and Botanic Garden in Palm Desert.

Wing span: 2 - 2 1/2 inches (5.1 - 6.3 cm).

Identification: Black outer half of male forewing encloses yellow-orange "dog's head" tinged with light purple iridescence. Black "eye" very near or touching the border. Hindwing yellow-orange, sometimes with black border. Female all yellow with a black upper forewing cell spot; sometimes with scattered black scaling on outer half.

Life history: Males patrol for females.

Flight: Two flights from April-May and July-August.

Caterpillar hosts: Usually false indigo (Amorpha californica) in the pea family (Fabaceae).

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Foothills, chaparral, oak or coniferous woodlands.

Range: North-central California south to Baja ... read moreCalifornia, west of the central mountains and deserts.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).