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The wingspan of this strange looking butterfly, the Chryxus Arctic, is 4.5 - 5.4 cm. Its wings are tan to dark brown with deep brown margins. The forewing is mottled with black and white. There are usually two or more eyespots on the upper and lower portions of the forewing and sometimes there is one found on the hind wing. These may be obscure. The colour pattern on their wings allows them to blend in perfectly with sand and pebbles. Its body and all of its appendages are a light brown color. The caterpillar can be either light brown or pale green with stripes down its sides. In colder climates the caterpillars of this species often need up to two years to complete their growth cycle. Its extremely tough chrysalis can be found under rocks, in grass roots, or inside tiny impressions in the soil.
They inhabit dry and open grassy, rocky, and woodland areas that are easily accessible. Males are often found on hill tops, while females prefer grassy meadows and have a slower wing-beat and more direct flight. They feed on flower nectar.
Eggs laid by the female Chryxus Arctic are tan-coloured or white, and placed on grasses. Mature caterpillars are about 3.2 cm, and are striped lengthwise with pale yellow, olive, green, brown, and brownish-yellow. The chrysalis, or cocoon, is pale yellowish-brown, with dark brown head and wing cases. Caterpillars require 2 years to complete development; hibernating as young caterpillars the first winter, and as mature ones the second winter.
The Chryxus Arctic is a very powerful flier and very difficult to approach. When it lands on rocks and leans sideways, it minimize its shadow and seems to disappear.
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CHRYXUS ARCTIC
Oeneis chryxus
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