Status:  rare resident

Flights:  1+, Mar-Oct?


Distribution/known sites in Monterey County:  a few recent records; Fort Ord, Peachtree Rd, Salinas R. near Soledad


Habitats:  disturbed areas: pastures, fields, lawns, gardens, grasslands

Host plants:  crab, bermuda, other grasses

Adult food:  nectars from many flowers - milkweeds, thistles, composites


Conservation: secure globally


Remarks: 

  1. •  sachem - a chief of North American tribe or confederation, esp. Algonquin chief

  2. •  responsive to climate change - now emerges a month earlier in Sacto area, has expanded range northward and eastward

  3. •  male golden-orange w/large square black stigma; fem. mostly brown w/hyaline spot at end of cell

 
 

Sachem

Atalopedes campestris

 

Life history facts


egg: laid singly on dry grass blades in the PM

larva:  feeds on leaves, lives at base of grass in shelter of rolled or tied leaves; spins protective leaf tent at grass roots, crawls up grass blade, clips grass tips, returns to eat in tent

pupa:

adult:  males perch on /near ground during day to wait for receptive fems.

on nightshade

Peachtree Rd. 8-18-08