It is a resident species of western North America and among the subspecies, entomologists have long been intrigued by their many phenotypic variations in coloration, wing length, and overall body size.

[1] Most populations are monophagous and rely on plants including Plantago erecta and Orthocarpus densiflorus as their host species in developing from eggs through to larvae, pupae, and mature butterflies.

[4] The Edith's checkerspot can be identified by its wings which are black with red and pale yellow or white bands.

[5] However, the subspecies of Edith's checkerspot vary slightly in appearance based on the areas they routinely inhabit.

[6] The Edith's checkerspot is found in North America, where it ranges from southern British Columbia and Alberta south to Baja California, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado.

[7] Habitats are mountains, typically on ridgetops, from coastal chaparral and transition zone open woodland to alpine tundra.

They can be frequently found in areas of nutrient-poor, serpentine soils which sustain the native grasslands that they prefer.

[6] Edith's checkerspot caterpillars will use various species of paintbrush (Castilleja), beardtongues (Penstemon), lousewort (Pedicularis), owl's clover (Orthocarpus), Chinese houses (Collinsia), and plantain (Plantago) as host plants.

Many behaviors, such as egg laying habits and movements are locally adapted, so the survival of the butterflies relies heavily on the growing season of these host plants.

[2] The eggs further develop into pre-diapause larvae[9] whose goal is to enter diapause and reach the fourth instar before their annual host plants senesce.

Thus, females try to enhance offspring survival by laying egg masses on cool moist slopes where host plant senescence is most delayed.

Thus, the paradox is that these larvae no longer prefer the cool slopes of host plants they grew up on, as it produces shade to restrict growth.

The second, neurological, inhibition mechanism involves mate rejection behavior in which the female flaps and tries to escape.

This behavior is stimulated by the neural sensation of bursal distention, which occurs in the presence of a spermatophore.

In fact, Edith's checkerspot females emerge from eclosion with all oocytes present and a portion already yolked, further limiting the role of the male spermatophore.

After mating, females return down the slope in order to minimize sexual harassment, and deposit eggs.

In many time constrained species such as the Edith's checkerspot, early season matings may have a higher probability of producing adults in the next generation than those later in the year.

Pre-diapause larvae are under time pressure to mature to diapause size before host plants senesce in summer drought.

In agreement with global warming predictions, this extinction process has shifted the range of this butterfly both northward and upward in elevation since the 1800s.

[1] In the case of Euphydryas editha quino, habitat destruction is the major reason for its decline, although climate change problems also pose a threat.

Quino checkerspot populations along the southernmost boundary (in Mexico) are at the greatest risk from continuing warming and drying climate trends.

[19] Some sedentary checkerspots remain at their original habitats despite the continuation of human interference, and have evolved adaptations to deal with these changes.