Names and Taxonomy
- Common Names: bordered patch or sunflower patch
- Synonyms:
- Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Genus Information: 1 species in NV, 3 in CA, 5 in US
Chlosyne lacinia
Bordered Patch
Introduction:
The bordered patch is an extremely variable butterfly. The upperside of the wings is mainly black with the forewing having rows of white and/or yellow-orange spots of varying sizes. There is usually one whitish spot in the forewing cell. The hindwing has many color variations. Those variations can be almost completely black to having some red postmedian spots to having a few rows of white postmedian spots to having an all red-orange discal area to having a yellow-orange postmedian band of varying width. The underside of the wings is just as variable as the upperside. It varies from having a few rows of white and red spots to having a yellow-white hindwing median band of varying width to the underside being mostly golden yellow with large yellow-orange spots and a thick golden-yellow median band.
Life Cycle:
Size wingspan ranges from 1.25 to 1.5 inches (32 to 48 mm)
Sexual Dimorphism: false
Metamorphosis: complete (egg, larva, pupa, adult)
