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California’s Butterflies |
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Food Plants |
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Larval Food Plants |
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The following table lists butterfly species and plant species by scientific name. |
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At Right: Castilleja angustifolia, a larval food plant for the butterfly Thessalia leanira. |
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Species |
Plant species |
Plant Families |
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Battus philenor |
Aristolochia species |
Aristolochiaceae |
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Papilio bairdi |
Artemisia dracunculus |
Asteraceae |
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Papilio cresphontes |
Citrus species |
Rutaceae |
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Ptelea trifoliata |
Rutaceae |
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Papilio eurymedon |
Rhamnus species |
Rhamnaceae |
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Ceanothus species |
Rhamnaceae |
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Prunus species |
Rosaceae |
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Papilio indra |
Tauschia species |
Apiaceae |
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Cymopterus species |
Apiaceae |
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Lomatium species |
Apiaceae |
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Papilio multicaudatus |
Prunus virginiana |
Rosaceae |
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Fraxinus species |
Oleaceae |
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Papilio polyxenes |
Thamnosma montana |
Rutaceae |
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Papilio rutulus |
Salix species |
Salicaceae |
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Plantaus species |
Plantanaceae |
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Papilio zelicaon |
Citrus species |
Rutaceae |
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Lomatium species |
Apiaceae |
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Tauschia species |
Apiaceae |
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Foeniculum species |
Apiaceae |
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Neophasia menapia |
Pinus species |
Pinaceae |
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Pontia beckeri |
Stanleya pinnata |
Brassicaceae |
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Guillenia lasiophylla |
Brassicaceae |
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Isomeris arborea |
Capparaceae |
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Pontia protodice |
many species |
Brassicaceae |
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many species |
Capparaceae |
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Pontia sisymbrii |
Arabis species |
Brassicaceae |
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Antocharis cethura |
Guillenia lasiophylla |
Brassicaceae |
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Caulanthus cooperi |
Brassicaceae |
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Anthocharis lanceolata |
Arabis species |
Brassicaceae |
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Anthocharis sara |
Arabis species |
Brassicaceae |
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Guillenia lasiophylla |
Brassicaceae |
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Caulanthus species |
Brassicaceae |
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Descurainia species |
Brassicaceae |
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Euchloe hyantis |
Guillenia lasiophylla |
Brassicaceae |
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Caulanthus species |
Brassicaceae |
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Descurainia species |
Brassicaceae |
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Pieris rapae |
many species |
Brassicaceae |
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Colias eurytheme |
Lupinus species |
Fabaceae |
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Trifolium species |
Fabaceae |
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Lotus scoparius |
Fabaceae |
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Astragalus species |
Fabaceae |
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Colias harfordii |
Astragalus species |
Fabaceae |
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Lotus scoparius |
Fabaceae |
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Zerene eurydice |
Amorpha species |
Fabaceae |
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Zerene cesonia |
Marina parryi |
Fabaceae |
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Dalea searlsiae |
Fabaceae |
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Phoebis sennae |
Cassia species |
Fabaceae |
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Eurema nicippe |
Cassia species |
Fabaceae |
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Danaus plexippus |
Asclepias species |
Asclepiadaceae |
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Danaus gilippus |
Asclepias species |
Asclepiadaceae |
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Coenympha californica |
Melica species |
Poaceae |
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Cercyonis sthenele |
Elymus elymoides |
Poaceae |
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Limenitis lorquini |
Salix species |
Salicaceae |
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Prunus species |
Rosaceae |
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Adelpha bredowii |
Quercus species |
Fagaceae |
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Junonia coenia |
Castilleja species |
Scrophulariaceae |
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Cordylanthus species |
Scrophulariaceae |
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Plantago species |
Plantaginaceae |
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Vanessa atalanta |
Urtica species |
Uriticaceae |
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Vanessa cardui |
many species |
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Vanessa annabella |
Sphaeralcea species |
Malvaceae |
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many mallows |
Malvaceae |
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Urtica species |
Uriticaceae |
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Vanessa virginiensis |
Gnaphalium species |
Asteraceae |
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Polygonia satyrus |
Urtica species |
Uriticaceae |
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Polygonia zephyrus |
Ribes cereum |
Grossulariaceae |
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Ribes species |
Grossulariaceae |
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Nymphalis milberti |
Urtica species |
Uriticaceae |
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Nymphalis californica |
Ceanothus species |
Rhamnaceae |
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Nymphalis antiopa |
Salix species |
Salicaceae |
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Euphydryas chalcedona |
Scrophularis californica |
Scrophulariaceae |
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Keckiella species |
Scrophulariaceae |
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Mimulus species |
Scrophulariaceae |
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Euphydryas editha |
Plantago species |
Plantaginaceae |
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Castilleja species |
Scrophulariaceae |
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Cordylanthus species |
Scrophulariaceae |
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Pedicularis species |
Scrophulariaceae |
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Dymasis dymas |
Justicia californica |
Acanthaceae |
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Thessalia leanira |
Castilleja affinis |
Scrophulariaceae |
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Castilleja foliolosa |
Scrophulariaceae |
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Castilleja angustifolia |
Scrophulariaceae |
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Chlosyne lacinia |
Helianthus species |
Asteraceae |
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Chlosyne californica |
Viguera deltoidea |
Asteraceae |
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Chlosyne gabbii |
Lessingia filaginifolia |
Asteraceae |
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Chlosyne palla |
Solidago species |
Asteraceae |
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Chrysothamnus species |
Asteraceae |
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Machearanthera species |
Asteraceae |
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Phyciodes mylitta |
Cirsium species |
Asteraceae |
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Speyeria callippe |
Viola pedunculata |
Violaceae |
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Speyeria coronis |
Viola purpurea |
Violaceae |
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Euptoieta claudia |
Linum species |
Linaceae |
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Libytheana carinenta |
Celtis reticulata |
Ulmaceae |
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Apodemia mormo |
Eriogonum species |
Polygonaceae |
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Apodemia palmeri |
Prosopis species |
Fabaceae |
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Calephelis nemesis |
Bacharis salicolifolia |
Asteraceae |
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Encelia californica |
Asteraceae |
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Calephelis wrightii |
Bebbia juncea |
Asteraceae |
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Habrodais grunus |
Quercus chrysolepis |
Fagaceae |
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Lithocarpus densiflorus |
Fagaceae |
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Chlorostrymon simaethis |
Cardiospermum species |
Sapindaceae |
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Satyrium auretorum |
Quercus wislizeni |
Fagaceae |
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Quercus john-tuckeri |
Fagaceae |
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Quercus chrysolepis |
Fagaceae |
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Quercus agrifolia |
Fagaceae |
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Satyrium californicum |
Quercus species |
Fagaceae |
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Ceanothus species |
Rhamnaceae |
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Satyrium saepium |
Ceanothus species |
Rhamnaceae |
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Satyrium silvinum |
Salix species |
Salicaceae |
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Satyrium tetra |
Cercocarpus species |
Rosaceae |
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Satyrium behrii |
Purshia species |
Rosaceae |
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Ministrymon leda |
Prosopis species |
Fabaceae |
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Acacia greggii |
Fabaceae |
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Callophrys comstocki |
Eriogonum heermannii |
Polygonaceae |
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Callophrys perplexa |
Eriogonum fasciculatum |
Polygonaceae |
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Lotus scoparius |
Fabaceae |
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Incisalia augustinus |
Heteromeles arbutifolia |
Rosaceae |
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Ademostoma fasciculatum |
Rosaceae |
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Prunus illicifolia |
Rosaceae |
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Ceanothus species |
Rhamnaceae |
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Rhamnus species |
Rhamnaceae |
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Arctostaphylos species |
Ericaceae |
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Incisalia eryphon |
Pinus species |
Pinaceae |
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Incisalia fotis |
Purshia mexicana |
Rosaceae |
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Incisalia mossii |
Sedum species |
Crassulaceae |
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Mitoura siva |
Juniperus species |
Cupressaceae |
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Mitoura loki |
Juniperus species |
Cupressaceae |
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Cupressus species |
Cupressaceae |
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Mitoura muiri |
Cupressus sargentii |
Cupressaceae |
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Mitoura nelsoni |
Calocedrus decurrens |
Cupressaceae |
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Mitoura thornei |
Cupressus forbesii |
Cupressaceae |
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Loranthomitoura spinetorum |
Arceuthobium species |
Viscaceae |
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Atlides halesus |
Phoradendron species |
Viscaceae |
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Strymon melinus |
many many plants |
many families |
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Strymon columella |
Hibiscus denudatus |
Malvaceae |
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Sida rhombifolia |
Malvaceae |
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Sphaeralcea species |
Malvaceae |
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Lycaena arota |
Ribes species |
Grossulariaceae |
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Lycaena gorgon |
Eriogonum elongatum |
Polygonaceae |
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Eriogonum nudum |
Polygonaceae |
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Lycaena helloides |
Rumex salicifolia |
Polygonaceae |
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Polygonum species |
Polygonaceae |
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Lycaena hermes |
Rhamnus crocea |
Rhamnaceae |
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Lycaena heteronea |
Eriogonum umbellatum |
Polygonaceae |
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Eriogonum species |
Polygonaceae |
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Lycaena xanthoides |
Rumex salicifolia |
Polygonaceae |
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Rumex species |
Polygonaceae |
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Leptotes marina |
many Fabaceae |
many Fabaceae |
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Adenostoma fasciculatum |
Rosaceae |
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Brephidium exila |
Atriplex species |
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Everes amyntula |
Astragalus species |
Fabaceae |
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Celastrina ladon |
Heteromeles arbutifolia |
Rosaceae |
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Ademostoma fasciculatum |
Rosaceae |
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Prunus illicifolia |
Rosaceae |
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Ceanothus species |
Rhamnaceae |
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Rhamnus species |
Rhamnaceae |
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Arctostaphylos species |
Ericaceae |
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Glaucopsyche lygdamus |
Lupinus species |
Fabaceae |
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Astragalus species |
Fabaceae |
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Lotus scoparius |
Fabaceae |
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Glaucopsyche piasus |
Lupinus species |
Fabaceae |
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Philotes sonorensis |
Dudleya species |
Crassulaceae |
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Philotiella speciosa |
Eriogonum reniforme |
Polygonaceae |
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Mucronea californica |
Polygonaceae |
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Oxytheca perfoliata |
Polygonaceae |
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Euphilotes battoides |
Eriogonum umbellatum |
Polygonaceae |
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Euphilotes baueri |
Eriogonum ovalifolium |
Polygonaceae |
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Eriogonum kennedyi |
Polygonaceae |
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Euphilotes bernardino |
Eriogonum fasciculatum |
Polygonaceae |
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Euphilotes ellisii |
Eriogonum heermannii |
Polygonaceae |
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Eriogonum microthecum |
Polygonaceae |
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Eriogonum corymbosum |
Polygonaceae |
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Euphilotes ancilla |
Eriogonum umbellatum |
Polygonaceae |
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Euphilotes enoptes |
Eriogonum species |
Polygonaceae |
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Euphilote mojave |
Eriogonum pusillum |
Polygonaceae |
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Eriogonum reniforme |
Polygonaceae |
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Euphilotes pallescens |
Eriogonum deflexum |
Polygonaceae |
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Eriogonum plumatella |
Polygonaceae |
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Eriogonum baileyi |
Polygonaceae |
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Lycaeides Melissa |
Astragalus species |
Fabaceae |
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Lupinus species |
Fabaceae |
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Plebejus saepiolus |
Trifolium species |
Fabaceae |
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Icaricia icarioides |
Lupinus species |
Fabaceae |
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Icaricia acmon |
Eriogonum annuals |
Fabaceae |
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Lotus annuals |
Fabaceae |
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Icaricia lupini |
Eriogonum fasciculatum |
Polygonaceae |
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Icaricia neurona |
Eriogonum wrightii |
Polygonaceae |
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Plebulina emigdionis |
Atriplex cannescens |
Chenopodiaceae |
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Atriplex polycarpa |
Chenopodiaceae |
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Hemiargus isola |
many Fabaceae |
many Fabaceae |
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Hemiargus ceraunus |
Eriogonum species |
Fabaceae |
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Lotus species |
Fabaceae |
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Megathymus yuccae |
Yucca species |
Liliaceae |
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Agathymus stephensi |
Agave deserti |
Liliaceae |
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Agathymus alliae |
Agave utahensis |
Liliaceae |
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Agathymus gentryi |
Agave deserti |
Liliaceae |
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Nastra Julia |
Bermuda grass |
Poaceae |
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Copaeodes aurantiaca |
grasses |
Poaceae |
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Hylephila phyleus |
grasses |
Poaceae |
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Pseudocopaeodes eunus |
Distichlis spicata |
Poaceae |
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Hesperia juba |
grasses |
Poaceae |
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Hesperia columbia |
Koeleria cristata |
Poaceae |
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Hesperia comma |
grasses |
Poaceae |
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Hesperia pahaska |
Bouteloua gracilis |
Poaceae |
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Polites sabuleti |
Distichlis spicata |
Poaceae |
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grasses |
Poaceae |
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Polites sonora |
grasses |
Poaceae |
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Atalopedes campestris |
grasses |
Poaceae |
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Ochlodes agricola |
grasses |
Poaceae |
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Ochlodes yuma |
Phragmites australis |
Poaceae |
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Ochlodes sylvanoides |
grasses |
Poaceae |
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Poanes melane |
grasses |
Poaceae |
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Euphyes vestries |
Carex spissa |
Cyperaceae |
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Lerodea eufala |
grasses |
Poaceae |
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Panoquina errans |
Distichlis spicata |
Poaceae |
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Epargyreus clarus |
Amorpha species |
Fabaceae |
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Polygonus leo |
no native food plants |
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Urbanus proteus |
Phaseolus species |
Fabaceae |
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Thorybes pylades |
Amorpha species |
Fabaceae |
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Other Fabaceae |
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Thorybes mexicana |
Trifolium species |
Fabaceae |
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Lotus species |
Fabaceae |
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Systsea zampa |
Abutilon species |
Malvaceae |
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Hibiscus denudatus |
Malvaceae |
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Erynnis brizo |
Quercus species |
Fagaceae |
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Erynnis properties |
Quercus species |
Fagaceae |
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Erynnis tristis |
Quercus species |
Fagaceae |
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Erynnis pacuvius |
Ceanothus species |
Rhamnaceae |
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Erynnis funeralis |
Lotus scoparius |
Fabaceae |
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many Fabaceae |
Fabaceae |
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Erynnis afranius |
Lotus species |
Fabaceae |
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Pyrgus ruralis |
Horkelia species |
Rosaceae |
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Potentilla species |
Rosaceae |
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Pyrgus scriptura |
Sphaeralcea species |
Malvaceae |
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Pyrgus communis |
Sidalcea species |
Malvaceae |
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Pyrgus albescens |
Sphaeralcea species |
Malvaceae |
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Malacothamnus species |
Malvaceae |
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Malva species |
Malvaceae |
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Sida rhombifolia |
Malvaceae |
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Heliopetes ericetorum |
Sphaeralcea species |
Malvaceae |
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Fremontontodendron species |
Sterculiaceae |
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Pholisora catullus |
Chenopodium species |
Chenopodiaceae |
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Hesperopsis libya |
Atriplex species |
Chenopodiaceae |
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Hesperopsis alpheus |
Atriplex cannescens |
Chenopodiaceae |
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Hesperopsis gracielae |
Atriplex lentiformis |
Chenopodiaceae |