About Chlosyne californica (W.G.Wright, 1905)
Chlosyne californica, commonly known as the California patch, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae. This species is found in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, where it inhabits desert washes and canyons across an area stretching from southern Nevada southward to southwestern Arizona, southeastern California, Baja California, and Sonora. The wingspan of adult California patch butterflies measures 1+1⁄4 to 2 inches, which equals 32 to 51 millimeters. On the upper side of the wings, the base and costal edge are brownish-black, marked with a wide yellow-orange median band and large orange submarginal spots. The underside of the wings has a similar pattern to the upper side, with a distinct red spot on the hindwing near the abdomen that blends into the median band. Adult California patches feed on flower nectar. The larvae of this species feed primarily on Parish goldeneye (Bahiopsis parishii), and will occasionally feed on common sunflowers (Helianthus annuus).
