Speyeria coronis ( Behr, 1864 )

Dunford, James C., 2009, Taxonomic overview of the greater fritillary genus Speyeria Scudder and the atlantis - hesperis species complexes, with species accounts, type images, and relevant literature (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (90), pp. 1-74 : 18-19

Speyeria coronis ( Behr, 1864)

( Figure 13 )

Argynnis Coronis Behr, 1864: 435 .

Argynnis californica Skinner, 1917: 328 .

Speyeria coronis (Behr) [ dos Passos and Grey 1945a].

Common names. Coronis fritillary, crown fritillary, California fritillary.

Type deposited. Putative lectotype (male) (but see Emmel et al. 1998b) designated by dos Passos and Grey (1947) at Carnegie Museum of Natural History ( Figure 13 ).

Type locality. California. Defined by dos Passos and Grey (1947) based on lectotype as Alma, Santa Clara County, California; subsequently determined not to be a syntype and was redesignated as neotype by dos Passos and Grey (1965). Brown (1965) also questioned the original designation and use of the term lectotype with the specimen dos Passos and Grey examined because type specimens were likely lost in an earthquake. He stated that the specimen was not of the type series and was not available for selection as lectotype. The specimen that I examined in March 2004 did not bear these two labels listed by Brown (1965): a label written by L. P. Grey that he considers this specimen typical and an identifying label added by Brown. Emmel et al. (1998b) discuss further this situation and conclude that it was possible that Behr likely described coronis from material collected by P. Lorquin, including one extant specimen. Therefore, it could be valid for a neotype specimen. Miller and Brown (1981) consider Edwards to have designated this specimen as a neotype by labeling it “Coronis [male]/Behr’s type”. Emmel et al. (1998b) added a label to the specimen indicating that it is the neotype of Argynnis coronis Behr , designated by W.H. Edwards. This label was also not associated with the specimen I examined. It is possible the image included herein is not the lectotype designated by dos Passos and Grey (1947), or it is unclear where the associated label data mentioned above were located at the time I visited the CMNH (March 2004).

Type label data. “Coronis Behr’s type, Juba B type ”.

Identification, taxonomy, and variation. There are approximately 7 described subspecies in the coronis complex ranging from the Rockies to the Pacific states. Adult wingspan ranges from 49-86 mm. Both sexes are generally orange to pale orange, and the forewing margins are nearly straight, with wing bases slightly darkened. The ventral hindwing discs are generally mottled brown and bear rounded inward or flattened silver spots capped pale green or greenish-brown. Populations in western Colorado and eastern Utah bear pale and slightly green tinged discs while populations in the Great Basin are greenishgray. The submarginal band located on the ventral surface of the hindwings is yellow to pale buff. Eggs are ribbed and tan in color. Larvae bear black and brown spots with orange or black lateral spines. The upper four rows of spines are typically black and somewhat lighter at the base; the lower two rows of spines are typically orange-yellow at the base. Larval coloration is variable throughout the range of S. coronis . Pupae are whitish, with black markings and resemble those of S. callippe . Speyeria coronis is hypothetically closely related to S. zerene and in some locations they are difficult to separate in the field. Their large size, thin, light veins in the male, and large, round, silver median spots on the ventral hindwing should distinguish S. coronis from most other Speyeria . Along the central coast of California, S. coronis and S. callippe are indistinguishable except that on average, S. coronis is larger and brighter orange dorsally, paler ventrally, and the hindwing postmedian spots (termed ‘spangles’) show through to a lesser extent when viewed dorsally. Speyeria carolae , formerly considered an intermediate form between S. coronis and S. zerene , is known only from mountains in southern Nevada and is presently considered a distinct species ( Emmel and Austin 1998).

Range. Speyeria coronis is known from northern Washington south to northwest Baja California, northeast throughout the Great Basin and central Rockies to Montana, Wyoming, and into western South Dakota and Nebraska.

Life history. Speyeria coronis is known from several habitat types, including oak woodlands, mountain slopes, foothills, mixed conifer forests, meadows, prairie valleys, chaparral, and sagebrush flats/scrub. This species often congregates on hillsides and meadows overgrown with rabbitbrush and sage ( Dornfeld 1980). In forest openings, they often frequent flowers along mountain streams. Males of S. coronis may emerge two weeks in advance of females, and may be on the wing in late May or early June before the arrival of other Speyeria species. Males will patrol for females all day in open areas regardless of topography ( Scott 1975). Speyeria coronis and closely related S. zerene have an adult diapause in the summer ( Brittnacher et al. 1978, Scott 1979). Females diapause (delay oviposition) in California and reappear in late August through September. Flight period is from late May to October, depending on locality and elevation. This species is usually found at low to middle elevations. Speyeria coronis forms occur at sea level in parts of California and up to 9,000 ft. in Colorado.

Larval host plants. Viola beckwithii , V. douglasii , V. nuttallii , V. purpurea ( Robinson et al. 2002) . In Washington, S. coronis also feed on V. trinervata ( Warren 2005) .

Adult food resources. Mint, thistle.

Figures

Figure 11-15. Type images for Speyeria spp.; dorsal, ventral, and label images. 11) Speyeria nokomis lectotype, described as Argynnis Nokomis, male, AMNH. This specimen is not recognized as the name bearing type. 12) Speyeria edwardsii lectotype, described as Argynnis edwardsii, male, FMNH. 13) Speyeria coronis neotype, described as Argynnis Coronis, male, CMNH. 14) Speyeria zerene lectotype, described as Argynnis Zerene, male, NMNH. 15) Speyeria carolae holotype, described as Argynnis coronis carolae, male, CMNH. Images 11-13 and 15 by James C. Dunford; 14 by Robert Robbins.