10-12-2020

Upper surface tawny orange, lacking white spots but with dark brown border projecting inward between veins, male forewing with prominent black stigma imbedded in dark diagonal band from wing base to somewhat rounded tip, female forewing with a dark diagonal band and no stigma. Undersurface variable (yellow, purple, chocolate-brown), hindwing usually yellow-orange with postmedian chevron of pale squarish yellow or yellow-cream spots.  Females lay eggs singly on the undersides of dead host plant leaves, typically 10-60 cm above ground (Scott 1992; James and Nunnallee 2011). L1 instar hatches from egg in about 7-18 days (depending on temperature), L1 instar overwinters in silk-tied leaf-tube shelter, emerges from diapause in spring, develop from L1 instar to L5 instar and pupa in about 44 days, adults eclose (emerge from pupae) in about 6-10 days. Larvae depart nests to feed on host plant leaves, feed nocturnally but may become more active during day as larvae mature, mature (L5 instar) larvae may aestivate for about 30 days prior to pupation, pupates in new leaf-nest (Scott 1979, 1986; James and Nunnallee 2011). Males perch throughout the day about 1 m above ground in gullies, valley botttoms, among shrubs on ridges, awaiting passing females (Scott 1975b, 1986).  From: http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=IILEP72010