Zerene eurydice

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California dogface butterfly
Zerene eurydice f.jpg
Female
Zerene eurydice m.jpg
Male
Status TNC G4.svg
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pieridae
Genus: Zerene
Species:
Z. eurydice
Binomial name
Zerene eurydice
(Boisduval, 1855)
Synonyms

Colias eurydiceBoisduval, 1855

Zerene eurydice, the California dogface butterfly, belongs to the family Pieridae and is a sister genus to Colias. [2] The Zerene eurydice and the Colias both share the "characteristic of having yellow-orange and black wing coordination." [3] Additionally the,"Colias and Zerene eurydice males have bright UV patterns on their wings." [3] There are only two species of the Zerene, the Zerene eurydice, and the Zerene cesonia, also known as the Southern dogface. [4] A study that collected mitochondrial DNA from various Colias butterfly species found that Z. eurydice had decreased divergence from the ingroup, highlighting how closely related these two genera are. [5] This species is endemic to California, and is California's state insect. [6] The California dogface butterfly varies in its wing color and pattern.

Contents

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Description

The California dogface butterfly, gained its name as a result of the coloring of the wings of the butterfly, especially in the males. "The Zerene eurydice only has UV patterns on its dorsal forewings." [7] The female mostly has yellow wings, with two black dots or dashes on each forewing, while the male has black on the outer edges of the forewing, usually enclosing a yellow-orange color and two black dots. [8] Male Z. Eurydice butterflies have an iridescent pigment found in their dorsal forewings due to light reflecting chitin structures and this has been associated with mating success. [4] The wing span of Zerene Eurydice measures on average 5.1 to 6.3 cm. The wings are covered with scales to assist "flight aerodynamics and heat insulation" and the overall body contains "setae hairs that sense vibration and touch." [7]

Distribution, feeding and habitat

Z. eurydice's distribution is limited to that of California and is commonly found in the San Bernardino mountains and Santa Ana Mountains in Southern California. [2] The Zerene's habitat is found in "foothills, chaparral, oak or coniferous woodlands." Within these regions, the habitat is temperate and terrestrial. [7]

Larvae of Z. eurydice exclusively feed on Amorpha californica , and Amorpha fruticosa, which belong to the family Fabaceae. [4] These host plants are found within, "poison oak, willow, and near streambanks. [9] During the larva and pupal stages, the Zerene eurydice are greenish yellow(same colors as family Fabaceae), and depend on Amorpha californica and Amorpha fruitcosa for camouflaging from predators. [7] These butterflies fly very fast, and are difficult to approach unless they are nectaring at flowers. [8] As a result, it is a challenge to get a photograph of them with their wings open. This fast flight aids Z. eurydice in escaping from predators such as: "ants, spiders, wasps, parasitic wasps, parasitic flies, birds, rats, toads, lizards, praying mantis, and snakes." [7] Adult butterflies are attracted to regions with moist soils and feed on several species of flowers. [8] It has been found that they are especially fond of blue gilia, sunflowers and thistle blooms. [8]

The breeding season for Zerene eurydice is between early spring and late summer, with an average of hundred eggs per season. [10] Z. Eurydice butterflies usually begin their flights around 7 a.m. and fly until the afternoon. This is not continuous and the butterflies will often roost in bushes. The females usually depart in flight an hour or two after the males. [8]

First state insect

The California dogface butterfly has been the state insect of the U.S. state of California since 1972. [6] Its endemic range is limited to the state. California was the first state to choose a state insect—and thus, to choose a butterfly—though most of the other states have now followed, and many even have both a state insect and state butterfly. It took 43 years, a determined 4th grade class, and Fresno Assemblyman Kenneth Maddy to have the California Dogface butterfly designated as the state insect. [11]

Threats

Threats towards the species Zerene eurydice include, "fire suppression which results in closure of habitat openings and may result in eventual overly intense fires that could eradicate populations." [12] Zerene eurydice are also locally threatened by livestock grazing. For global status-most recently updated in 2019-classifies Zerene eurydice as G4, indicating "apparently secure." [12] The reasons behind Zerene eurydice being "apparently secure" are, "although this species is uncommon and local, and is a subject to some threats, they persist in a relatively large number of occurrences." [12] The number of element occurrences for Zerene eurydice are between 81 and 300. However, the long-term trend for Zerene eurydice results in a decline of less than 30% because of "the large scale of habitat conversion that has taken place in the California Coast and Transverse Ranges in the 20th century. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pieridae</span> Butterfly family in superfamily Papilionoidea

The Pieridae are a large family of butterflies with about 76 genera containing about 1,100 species, mostly from tropical Africa and tropical Asia with some varieties in the more northern regions of North America and Eurasia. Most pierid butterflies are white, yellow, or orange in coloration, often with black spots. The pigments that give the distinct coloring to these butterflies are derived from waste products in the body and are a characteristic of this family. The family was created by William John Swainson in 1820.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coliadinae</span> Subfamily of butterflies

Coliadinae, the sulphurs or yellows, are a subfamily of butterflies with about 300 described species.

<i>Speyeria zerene</i> Species of butterfly

Speyeria zerene, the zerene fritillary, is a butterfly found in the western portions of the United States and Canada. The species was first described by William John Swainson in 1827.

<i>Colias croceus</i> Species of butterfly

Colias croceus, clouded yellow, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, the yellows and whites.

<i>Colias hyale</i> Species of butterfly

Colias hyale, the pale clouded yellow, is a butterfly of the family Pieridae, which is found in most of Europe and large parts of the Palearctic. It is a rare migrant to the British Isles and Scandinavia. The adult wingspan is 52–62 millimetres (2.0–2.4 in).

<i>Colias alfacariensis</i> Species of butterfly

Colias alfacariensis, Berger's clouded yellow, is a butterfly of the family Pieridae. It was separated from the pale clouded yellow, C. hyale, in 1905. Berger's clouded yellow is a Palearctic species (South and Central Europe, South Russia, Russian Far East, Siberia Central Asia and temperate China also Asia Minor, Caucasus and Transcaucasia.

<i>Colias</i> Butterfly genus in family Pieridae

Colias is a genus of butterflies in the family Pieridae. They are often called clouded yellows in the Palearctic and sulphurs in North America. The closest living relative is the genus Zerene, which is sometimes included in Colias.

<i>Colias palaeno</i> Species of butterfly

Colias palaeno, known by the common names moorland clouded yellow, palaeno sulphur, and pale Arctic clouded yellow, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae.

<i>Zerene cesonia</i> Species of butterfly

Zerene cesonia, the southern dogface, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Pieridae, subfamily Coliadinae.

<i>Colias philodice</i> Species of butterfly

Colias philodice, the common sulphur or clouded sulphur, is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae, subfamily Coliadinae.

<i>Colias phicomone</i> Species of butterfly

Colias phicomone, the mountain clouded yellow, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in the Cantabrian Mountains, the Pyrenees, the Carpathian Mountains and the Alps. It flies at altitudes of 900 to 2800 meters.

<i>Colias myrmidone</i> Species of butterfly

Colias myrmidone, the Danube clouded yellow, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae.

<i>Colias nastes</i> Species of butterfly

Colias nastes, the Labrador sulphur, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. In Europe, it is found in the north of Norway and Sweden and on rare occasions in northern Finland. It is also found in North America, specifically in Alaska, Canada, and the Rocky Mountains, Washington, Montana and on Greenland. In Asia, it is found in the Altai Mountains, the border regions of Russia, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, the Sayan Mountains, the north of Siberia, and in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.

<i>Zerene</i> Butterfly genus in family Pieridae

Zerene is a genus of butterflies in the family Pieridae commonly called dogfaces. The closest living relative is the genus Colias. They are migratory.

Butterflies, or members of the Papilionoidea superfamily, use two ultraviolet signals, UV reflectance or absorbance as a communication system. The ultraviolet region is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum between 10 nm and 400 nm in wavelength. Sensitivity to this region provides butterflies several benefits such as nectar guides for nectar, but it also provides a private communication channel unavailable to predators. With this secure line, butterflies are able to facilitate mating behavior and sex recognition.

<i>Colias alexandra</i> Species of butterfly

Colias alexandra, the Queen Alexandra's sulphur, Alexandra sulphur, or ultraviolet sulfur, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found in western North America. Its range includes Alaska to the Northwest Territories and south to Arizona and New Mexico.

<i>Colias lesbia</i> Species of butterfly

Colias lesbia is a species of butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in the Neotropical realm.

<i>Colias romanovi</i> Species of butterfly

Colias romanovi is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in the eastern Palearctic realm.

The Lorquin Entomological Society is a century-old association of professional and amateur entomologists, biologists and naturalists that meet regularly to study and promote entomology and natural history, especially about wildlife in and near Southern California.

References

  1. ↑ Zerene eurydice https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.117394/Zerene_eurydice cod-draft
  2. 1 2 Pacific Coast Entomological Society; Society, Pacific Coast Entomological; Van Duzee, Edward P.; Sciences, California Academy of; Society, Pacific Coast Entomological (1927). The Pan-Pacific entomologist. Vol. 4. San Francisco: Pacific Coast Entomological Society.
  3. 1 2 Fenner, Jennifer; Rodriguez-Caro, Luis; Counterman, Brian (2019-07-01). "Plasticity and divergence in ultraviolet reflecting structures on Dogface butterfly wings". Arthropod Structure & Development. 51: 14–22. Bibcode:2019ArtSD..51...14F. doi:10.1016/j.asd.2019.06.001. ISSN   1467-8039. PMID   31176003. S2CID   182949679.
  4. 1 2 3 Fenner, Jennifer; Rodriguez-Caro, Luis; Counterman, Brian (2019-07-01). "Plasticity and divergence in ultraviolet reflecting structures on Dogface butterfly wings". Arthropod Structure & Development. 51: 14–22. Bibcode:2019ArtSD..51...14F. doi:10.1016/j.asd.2019.06.001. ISSN   1467-8039. PMID   31176003. S2CID   182949679.
  5. ↑ Wheat, Christopher W.; Watt, Ward B. (2008-06-01). "A mitochondrial-DNA-based phylogeny for some evolutionary-genetic model species of Colias butterflies (Lepidoptera, Pieridae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 47 (3): 893–902. Bibcode:2008MolPE..47..893W. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.03.013. ISSN   1055-7903. PMID   18442929.
  6. 1 2 California State Library Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Diamond, Sara; Hong, Kijun. "Zerene eurydice". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Riddell, Janet (1941). "Some Remarkable Forms and Aberrations in the Subgenus Zerene Hübner (lepidoptera, Pieridae)". Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London. 91 (9): 447–457. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2311.1941.tb01047.x. ISSN   1365-2311.
  9. ↑ "Zerene eurydice | Art Shapiro's Butterfly Site". butterfly.ucdavis.edu. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  10. ↑ Scott, James A. (1992). The Butterflies of North America (1st ed.). New York: Stanford University Press. pp. 49–70. ISBN   9780804720137.
  11. ↑ "Butterfly Makes Good". The Sacramento Bee . August 1, 1972.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
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