Chlosyne hoffmanni

Common Name
Hoffmann's Checkerspot

This is one of the very few butterflies adapted to climax Red Fir forest. It can be abundant at Donner and Castle Peak (below tree-line only), where males pack onto mud puddles along trails early in the season. Adults visit Aster, Pink Pussy-Paws, Coyotemint, etc. and remain in the sun, although surrounded by the fir canopy. There is considerable minor pattern variation.

The host plant was confirmed on Castle Peak in 2011 as Golden-Aster, Eucephalus (formerly Chrysopsis) breweri. A variety of Composites have been identified elsewhere, and woodland species of Aster are suspected.