BC Conservation Data Centre: Species Summary
Euphydryas editha taylori
Edith's Checkerspot, taylori subspecies
| Scientific Name: | Euphydryas editha taylori (W.H. Edwards, 1888) | ||||||||||
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| English Name: | Edith's Checkerspot, taylori subspecies | ||||||||||
| Classification / Taxonomy | |||||||||||
| Scientific Name - Concept Reference: | Pelham, J. P. 2008. A catalogue of the butterflies of the United States and Canada with a complete bibliography of the descriptive and systematic literature. The Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera. Volume 40. 658 pp. Revised 14 February, 2012. | ||||||||||
| Classification Level: | Subspecies | ||||||||||
| Species Group: | Invertebrate Animal | ||||||||||
| Species Code: | LE-EUPEDI-TA | ||||||||||
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| Conservation Status / Legal Designation | |||||||||||
| Global Status: | G4G5T1 (Sep 2008) | ||||||||||
| Provincial Status: | S1 (Mar 2021) | ||||||||||
| BC List: | Red | ||||||||||
| Provincial FRPA list: | |||||||||||
| Provincial Wildlife Act: | |||||||||||
| COSEWIC Status: | Endangered (May 2011) | ||||||||||
| SARA Schedule: | 1 - Endangered (Jun 2003) | ||||||||||
| General Status Canada: | |||||||||||
| Ecology & Life History | |||||||||||
| General Description: | |||||||||||
| Subspecies Comments: | Euphydryas editha taylori is also known as the Taylor's Checkerspot. There are two known subspecies of E. editha in BC. E.e.taylori is known from the southern gulf islands and Vancouver Island. E.e.beanii is known from the southern interior of the province, from Lilloett south with most records from the southern Okanagan near the US border (Guppy and Shepard 2001; Layberry et al. 1998). | ||||||||||
| Identification Comments: | E.e.taylori is a small, bright and attractive butterfly with a wingspan of 3.4 - 4.3 mm. The wing uppersides are with bright red, orange and black checkered bands parallel to a black thorax and abdomen. The forewing tips are slightly rounded. The eggs are transparent and yellow. The larvae are an overall black colouration, with orange bands running down the sides of the body and bristles covering the surfaces. The base of each bristle is orange (Guppy and Shepard 2001). For detailed identification information and photographs refer to Guppy and Shepard (2001) and Layberry et al. (1998). | ||||||||||
| Provincial Reproduction Comments: | Fourteen caterpillars were observed at the only known location in BC (Denman Island), in early May 2006 (J. Heron, pers. obs. 2006). | ||||||||||
| Provincial Ecology Comments: | Biologically limiting factors include the following although many of these factors are not fully understood: 1. Foodplant specificity; 2. Flowering period of the foodplant; 3. Habitat patch size and quality; 4. Inter- and Intra-specific population structure; 5. Small occupied area of population. | ||||||||||
| Migration Characteristics: (Global / Provincial) | |||||||||||
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Nonmigrant: Local Migrant: Distant Migrant: Within Borders Migrant: |
N / Y N / N N / N na / N |
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| Provincial Mobility & Migration Comments: | E.e.taylori is thought to disperse up to 500 metres, although there has been no studies to verify this estimate (J. Heron, pers. comm. 2007). | ||||||||||
| Habitats: (Type / Subtype / Dependence) |
Agriculture / Pasture/Old Field / Facultative - frequent use
Grassland/Shrub / Grassland / Facultative - frequent use Grassland/Shrub / Meadow / Facultative - frequent use Other Unique Habitats / Vernal Pools/Seasonal Seeps / Obligate |
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| Global Habitat Comments: | Dry prairies or prairie-like native grassland in Puget Sount, Willamette portions of range, maritime meadows within Garry oak ecosystems in Canada. | ||||||||||
| Provincial Habitat Comments: | E.e.taylori is known to occur in Garry oak and associated ecosystems although some populations are known from old clearcuts (approximately ten years old). The only known population in BC is from a regenerating clearcut logged in 2001 (J. Heron, pers. comm. 2007). | ||||||||||
| Food Habits: |
Herbivore:Immature
Nectarivore: Adult |
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| Global Food Habits Comments: | The documented foodplants for this subspecies are Castillegia hispida, Plantago maritima, and the exotic P. lanceolata. Only the last is documented range-wide. Adults nectar on a variety of flowers, but the primary nectar source Lomatium utriculatum. | ||||||||||
| Provincial Food Habits Comments: | In March and April 2008, 552 post-diapause Taylor's Checkerspot larvae were observed at 38 sites in the Northwest and East Populations on Denman Island. Most larvae were in groups from 2-153 individuals and were associated with host plant patches in seasonally wet areas or wetlands (Page et al. 2009). The five food plants observed in use (in order of frequency) were Veronica serpyllifolia (58%), Veronica scutellata (26%), Plantago lanceolata (11%), Plantago major (3%), and Centaurium erythraea (1%) (Page et al. 2009). In July 2008, 356 pre-diapause Taylor's Checkerspot larvae were observed. Foodplants observed in use were Veronica scutellata, Veronica serpyllifolia, Veronica beccabunga and Plantago major (Page et al. 2009). Plantago lanceolata, once thought to be the primary foodplant of Taylor's Checkerspots, was not observed to be used for feeding by pre-diapause larvae; it was noted that in many cases P. lanceolata had dried out and was senescing which likely affected its quality as a host plant during the survey period (Page et al. 2009). Non-host plants used by pre-diapause larvae for resting include Juncus effusus, wood, soil, and grass (Page et al. 2009). Nectaring by adults appears to occur on a broad range of species and use appears to reflect the phenology of available nectar sources, rather than specific nectar plant preferences (Page et al. 2009). Woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) appears to be the most common nectar source on Denman Island, but oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare); hairy cat's-ear (Hypochaeris radicata), lance-leaved blackberry (Rubus laciniatus), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), white clover (Trifolium repens) and trailing blackberry (Rubus ursinus) were also present within the habitat and observed to be used by Taylor's Checkerspots (Page et al. 2007, 2009). |
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| Global Phenology: | |||||||||||
| Provincial Phenology: (1st half of month/ 2nd half of month) |
Jan: Present / Present
Feb: Present / Present Mar: Larvae present and active / Larvae present and active Apr: Larvae present and active / Active May: Active / Reproducing June: Reproducing / Eggs present outside adult July: Larvae present and active / Present Aug: Present / Present Sept: Present / Present Oct: Present / Present Nov: Present / Present Dec: Present / Present |
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| Provincial Phenology Comments: | Adult butterflies have been recorded on Denman Island flying from May 11 to June 14 during which time they deposit eggs. The pre-diapause period begins in early summer (July) when eggs oviposited during the flight period hatch, and ends when the larvae enter diapause (a state of dormancy) in late summer (August/September). Larvae are active again (post-diapause) as soon as weather is warm, in early spring (March/April) or late winter (sometimes as early as late February). During this time larvae feed to maximize growth (Page et al. 2009). Newly hatched larvae form web-like structures within which larvae aggregate until after the first moult. Pupation is very short, although there have been no studies on the BC subspecies (J. Heron, pers. comm. 2007). | ||||||||||
| Colonial Breeder: | N | ||||||||||
| Length(cm)/width(cm)/Weight(g): | / / | ||||||||||
| Elevation (m) (min / max): |
Global:
Provincial: 10 / 600 |
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| Distribution | |||||||||||
| Endemic: | N | ||||||||||
| Global Range Comment: | Known from the Puget Trough/Willamette Valley/Georgia Basin, from west central Oregon, through Washington, to southern Vancouver Island in Canada. | ||||||||||
| Authors / Contributors | |||||||||||
| Global Information Author: | DFS | ||||||||||
| Last Updated: | Sep 30, 2008 | ||||||||||
| Provincial Information Author: | Heron, J. | ||||||||||
| Last Updated: | Apr 14, 2009 | ||||||||||
| References and Related Literature | |||||||||||
B.C. Ministry of Environment. Recovery Planning in BC. B.C. Minist. Environ. Victoria, BC. |
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Baron, N., and F. Backhouse. 1999. Rare Butterflies of Southeastern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch. 6pp. |
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Grosboll, D.N. 2004. Captive Rearing the Endangered Mardon Skipper (Polites mardon) and Taylor's Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha taylori) Butterflies: Initial Results (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae). In T.D. Hooper, ed. Proc. of the Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conf. March 2-6, 2004, Victoria, B.C. Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conference Organizing Committee, Victoria, BC. 18pp. |
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Guppy, C.S., and J.H. Shepard. 2001. Butterflies of British Columbia. UBC Press in collaboration with Royal B.C. Mus. 414pp. |
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Layberry, R. A., P. W. Hall, and J. D. LaFontaine. 1998. The butterflies of Canada. University of Toronto Press. 280pp. + color plates. |
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Page, N., J.Heron, C.Webb and N.Kroeker. 2007. Surveys of Taylor's Checkerspot and other butterflies on Denman and Hornby Islands (2007). Report prepared for BC Ministry of Environment and Parks Canada Agency. 12pp. + appendices. |
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Shepard, J.H. 2000. Status of Five Butterflies and Skippers in British Columbia. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch. Working Rep. WR-101. 27pp. |
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for definitions of the data fields used in this summary report.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2008. Species Summary: Euphydryas editha taylori. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 8, 2026).