Sierra Nevada Parnassian (Parnassius behrii W.H. Edwards)
Wing span: 1 15/16 - 2 1/16 inches (4.9 - 5.3 cm).
Identification: Upperside of forewing with 2 black spots and 1-3 small yellow or orange spots along front edge. Hindwing with 2 round yellow or orange spots. Hairs on abdomen light yellow.
Life history: Males patrol close to the ground for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on almost any surface. Caterpillars feed on leaves and occasionally flowers and fruits. Hibernate as eggs.
Flight: One flight mainly mid-July to early September.
Caterpillar hosts: Stonecrop (Sedum) in the Crassulaceae family.
Adult food: Nectar from flowers of Sedum and Asteraceae family.
Habitat: Rock slides, alpine tundra, and stream edges.
Range: Sierra Nevada of California.
Conservation: Species has small range and is subject to random climatic events.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G3, G4 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range OR Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
