Parnassius phoebus behrii

Common Name
Behr's Parnassian

A characteristic alpine species of the central and southern Sierra Nevada, seemingly becoming rarer in recent years. Our transect lies entirely north of its breeding range, but it has been picked up a couple of times as an apparent stray. One brood, July-August; males hilltop. Host plant Sedum, which is common enough on the granodiorite balds at the east end of Donner Pass, but the butterfly does not breed there.