Sierra Nevada Parnassian

Wing span: 1 15/16 - 2 1/16 inches (4.9 - 5.3 cm).

Identification: Upperside of forewing with 2 black spots and 1-3 small yellow or orange spots along front edge. Hindwing with 2 round yellow or orange spots. Hairs on abdomen light yellow.

Life history: Males patrol close to the ground for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on almost any surface. Caterpillars feed on leaves and occasionally flowers and fruits. Hibernate as eggs.

Flight: One flight mainly mid-July to early September.

Caterpillar hosts: Stonecrop (Sedum) in the Crassulaceae family.

Adult food: Nectar from flowers of Sedum and Asteraceae family.

Habitat: Rock slides, alpine tundra, and stream edges.

Range: Sierra N... read moreevada of California.

Conservation: Species has small range and is subject to random climatic events.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G3, G4 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range OR Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.