California Dogface (Zerene eurydice [Boisduval])
Wing span: 2 - 2 1/2 inches (5.1 - 6.3 cm).
Identification: Black outer half of male forewing encloses yellow-orange "dog's head" tinged with light purple iridescence. Black "eye" very near or touching the border. Hindwing yellow-orange, sometimes with black border. Female all yellow with a black upper forewing cell spot; sometimes with scattered black scaling on outer half.
Life history: Males patrol for females.
Flight: Two flights from April-May and July-August.
Caterpillar hosts: Usually false indigo (Amorpha californica) in the pea family (Fabaceae).
Adult food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Foothills, chaparral, oak or coniferous woodlands.
Range: North-central California south to Baja California, west of the central mountains and deserts.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
