Silvery checkerspot
Chlosyne nycteis
Butterfly
Small orange-and-black checkerspot whose larvae feed on Echinacea, Rudbeckia, and other native composites in the Asteraceae family. NC State Plant Toolbox's tags reference this species as one of the butterfly larvae supported by purple coneflower.
Plan for this species
Location-fit plant set for Chicago, IL: host and specialist plants first, then nectar, fruit, seed, foliage, and shelter plants that still fit the current and mid-century climate read.
4 essential relationships / 0 supporting plants
Host/specialist links: 4
Forage/pollination links: 0
Shelter links: 0
Relationship roles: 1
Black-eyed Susan
Essential / Larval host plants
Rudbeckia species are documented larval hosts for the silvery checkerspot butterfly.
Cutleaf coneflower
Essential / Larval host plants
Like other Rudbeckia, hosts silvery checkerspot larvae.
Orange coneflower
Essential / Larval host plants
Rudbeckia species are documented larval hosts for the silvery checkerspot butterfly.
Purple coneflower
Essential / Larval host plants
NC State Plant Toolbox tags Echinacea purpurea as a host plant for the silvery checkerspot butterfly (Chlosyne nycteis).
Plants in the catalog
Larval host plants · 4
Rudbeckia species are documented larval hosts for the silvery checkerspot butterfly.
Like other Rudbeckia, hosts silvery checkerspot larvae.
Rudbeckia species are documented larval hosts for the silvery checkerspot butterfly.
NC State Plant Toolbox tags Echinacea purpurea as a host plant for the silvery checkerspot butterfly (Chlosyne nycteis).
Range
Eastern and central United States.
Sources & citations
Cite this page
Use this citation for the Plotwright wildlife record. Use the source cards below to explore the references that informed its taxonomy, range, conservation, host plants, foraging, and habitat.
Plotwright. (n.d.). Silvery checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis). Retrieved 2026, August 20, from https://plotwright.com/wildlife/silvery-checkerspot
Sources used for this record
This record is compiled from the sources below.
BAMONA: Silvery checkerspot
Species profile for eastern range, flight season, adult nectar use, and Asteraceae larval hosts.
MDC Field Guide: Silvery checkerspot
State agency species account used for identification detail, larval and adult food, and life-cycle timing. Missouri-scoped, so it is not cited for continental range.
Wikipedia: Chlosyne nycteis
Corroborating reference for checkerspot identity and composite-family host context.
GBIF: Chlosyne nycteis
GBIF backbone key 1914458 is an exact accepted match for the silvery checkerspot Chlosyne nycteis in family Nymphalidae.
iNaturalist: Chlosyne nycteis
iNaturalist taxon 62978 is the active species record for Chlosyne nycteis with community observation range data.