''Coenonympha california'', also known as the California ringlet or common ringlet, is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

butterfly Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterized by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight. The oldest butterfly fossi ...

native to North America. Although it has previously been considered a subspecies of '' Coenonympha tullia'',

genetic testing Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, is used to identify changes in DNA sequence or chromosome structure. Genetic testing can also include measuring the results of genetic changes, such as RNA analysis as an output of gene expression, or ...

suggests it is a separate species.

Habitat and behavior

The California ringlet is found in grasslands and woodlands from foothills to . There are two broods a year. The adults of the spring brood are darker and grayer than the adults of the summer brood, which are buff. This might be for

thermoregulation Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when the surrounding temperature is very different. A thermoconforming organism, by contrast, simply adopts the surrounding temperature ...

. Larvae feed on grasses.

Taxonomy

''Coenonympha california'' contains the following subspecies: * ''Coenonympha california mcisaaci'' * ''Coenonympha california galactinus'' * ''Coenonympha california benjamini'' * ''Coenonympha california mackenziei'' * ''Coenonympha california yontocket'' * ''Coenonympha california eryngii'' * ''Coenonympha california eunomia'' * ''Coenonympha california columbiana'' * ''Coenonympha california mono'' * ''Coenonympha california elko'' * ''Coenonympha california pseudobrenda'' * ''Coenonympha california subfusca'' * ''Coenonympha california furcae'' * ''Coenonympha california nipisiquit'' * ''Coenonympha california ampelos'' * ''Coenonympha california ochracea'' * ''Coenonympha california insulana'' * ''Coenonympha california inornata'' * ''Coenonympha california california''

References

california California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

Butterflies described in 1851 Taxa named by John O. Westwood Butterflies of North America Lepidoptera of the United States {{Lepidoptera-stub