Wing span: 1 3/8 - 2 inches (3.5 - 5.1 cm).

Identification: Variable. Upperside is black with a very wide orange or cream median band and small orange or white postmedian spots. Underside of hindwing is black with a yellow to cream-colored median band, small white postmedian spots, and large cream-colored marginal spots. Red spot near abdomen is usually separate from the median band.

Life history: During the day, males patrol around host plants or patrol and perch on hillsides in search of females. Eggs are laid in large groups on the underside of host plant leaves. Young caterpillars are gregarious and eat the underside of leaves; older caterpillars are solitary and eat leaves and stems. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate, and they may also go into diapause during the summer.

Flight: Many broods in California from March-October, throughout the year in South Texas.

Caterpillar hosts: Plants in the sunflower family including sunflowers (Helianthus), ragweed (Ambrosia trifida), crownbeard (Verbesina), and cockleburs (Xanthium).
Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Pinyon or oak woodlands, thorn forest, desert hills, fields, road edges, fencerows.

Range: Argentina north through Mexico to Texas and southeastern New Mexico, west through Arizona to southern California, north to southeastern Nevada. Casual migrant to Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas; rarely to western Missouri.