Oeneis uhleri
| Oeneis uhleri | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Genus: | Oeneis |
| Species: | O. uhleri |
| Binomial name | |
| Oeneis uhleri (Reakirt, 1866)[1] | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Oeneis uhleri, Uhler's Arctic, is a species of butterfly in the Nymphalidae family. It is found in north-eastern Alaska, Yukon and the western Northwest Territories and from central Alberta south through the Rocky Mountains to northern New Mexico and east through the Canadian prairie provinces to western Minnesota. The habitat consists of slopes in dry, open bunchgrass areas, as well as tundra and openings in pine forests.
The wingspan is 38–56 mm. The upperside is dull orange-brown with dark veins. The underside of the hindwings has a dark basal half and a lighter outer half. Both wings have one to many small submarginal spots. Adults are on wing from early June to early July in one generation per year.[2]
The larvae feed on various grasses and sedges, including Festuca, Koeleria and Poa species.[3] Fourth instar larvae overwinter and emerge in spring. Pupation takes place under the soil.
Subspecies
- Oeneis uhleri uhleri (Colorado: eastern slope)
- Oeneis uhleri cairnesi Gibson, 1920 (Yukon, north-western Northwest Territories, north-eastern Alaska)
- Oeneis uhleri nahanni Dyar, 1904 (Northwest Territories: Mackenzie Mountains)
- Oeneis uhleri reinthali Brown, 1953 (Colorado: western slope)
- Oeneis uhleri varuna (Edwards, 1882) (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, western Minnesota)