Page 199 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Nymphalidae
DIS
TRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION North America, from Alaska and western Canada to
DISTRIBUTION
Washington State and Montana
HABITAT
HABITAT
HABIT A T Arctic-alpine and high Arctic rockslides, ridges, and tundra
HOST PLANTS
HOST PLANTS
HOS T PLANT S Saxifrage (Saxifraga spp.)
NOTE
NO TE High-alpine caterpillar that takes two years to reach maturity
NOTE
TION S
A
T
A
TUS
CONSERVATION STATUS
CONSERV
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but rare in parts of its range
ADULT WINGSPAN
2–2⅛ in (50–55 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH

1–1⅜ (25–35 mm)
BOLORIA ASTARTE
ASTARTE FRITILLARY 197
(DOUBLEDAY & HEWITSON, 1847)
The eggs of the Astarte Fritillary are laid singly on or near the
host plant in midsummer. First instars hatch after eight days and
do not consume their eggshells. Some development takes place

in the rst year, with caterpillars overwintering as rst or second
instars. Feeding then recommences in spring, and the caterpillar

reaches the fourth or fth instar by the end of the short summer.
The mature caterpillar overwinters and pupates on or near the
host plant in the following June. Adults emerge from late July
to early August.

Astarte Fritillary caterpillars use camou age, concealment, and
chemicals produced from a ventral gland to defend themselves.
The species, a true alpine specialist, generally occurring above
8,200 ft (2,500 m), may be vulnerable to climate warming or
may adapt to longer summers. There is some evidence that the Actual size
caterpillars can complete development in a single season if they
are exposed to warm conditions.

The Astarte Fritillary caterpillar is black
with contrasting gray-white dorsal markings in
complex but regular patterns of dashes and Vs.
All spines and setae are black, with the bases of
the two dorsal rows circled in yellow gold. White
spots pepper the body laterally, and the spiracles
are black and narrowly encircled in white.