''Zerene eurydice'', the California dogface butterfly, belongs to the family Pieridae and is a sister genus to ''

Colias ''Colias'' is a genus of butterflies in the family Pieridae. They are often called clouded yellows in the Palearctic and sulphurs (a name also used for other coliadine genera) in North America. The closest living relative is the genus '' Zerene ...

.'' ''The Zerene eurydice'' and the ''Colias'' both share the "characteristic of having yellow-orange and black wing coordination''."'' Additionally the,"''Colias'' and ''Zerene eurydice'' males have bright UV patterns on their wings." There are only two species of the ''Zerene'', the ''Zerene eurydice'', and the ''Zerene cesonia'', also known as the Southern dogface. 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. This species is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

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 ...

, and is California's state insect.California State Library
Retrieved August 25, 2017. The California dogface butterfly varies in its wing color and pattern.

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." 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. 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. 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."

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 The Santa Ana Mountains are a short peninsular mountain range along the coast of Southern California in the United States. They extend for approximately southeast of the Los Angeles Basin largely along the border between Orange and Riversid ...

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...

. The ''Zerene's'' habitat is found in "foothills, chaparral, oak or coniferous woodlands." Within these regions, the habitat is temperate and terrestrial. Larvae of ''Z. eurydice'' exclusively feed on '' Amorpha californica'', and '' Amorpha fruticosa,'' which belong to the family

Fabaceae Fabaceae () or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomen ...

. These host plants are found within, "poison oak, willow, and near streambanks. 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. These butterflies fly very fast, and are difficult to approach unless they are nectaring at flowers. 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." Adult butterflies are attracted to regions with moist soils and feed on several species of flowers. It has been found that they are especially fond of blue gilia, sunflowers and thistle blooms. The breeding season for ''Zerene eurydice'' is between early spring and late summer, with an average of hundred eggs per season. ''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.

First state insect

The California dogface butterfly has been the state insect of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

since 1972. Its endemic range is limited to the state. California was the first state to choose a state insect—and thus, to choose a

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 ...

—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.

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." ''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." 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." 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.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2688209 Butterflies described in 1855 Butterflies of North America Coliadinae Endemic fauna of California Fauna of the California chaparral and woodlands Santa Ana Mountains Symbols of California Taxa named by Jean Baptiste Boisduval Lepidoptera of the United States