• Butterflies
• Dragonflies
• Damselflies
• Tiger beetles
• Hike with Mike

• The butterflies:
• Brushfooted Butterflies
  • Snouts
  • Heliconians and Fritillaries
  • True Brushfoots
  • Admirals and Relatives
  • Leafwings
  • Emperors
  • Satyrs
  • Monarchs
• Satyrs
  • Northern Pearly-eye
  • Eyed Brown
  • Smoky Eyed Brown
  • Appalachian Brown
  • Little Wood-Satyr
  • Common Ringlet
  • Common Wood-Nymph
  • Red-disked Alpine
  • Chryxus Arctic
  • Jutta Arctic

Chryxus Arctic

(Oeneis chryxus)

This is a spring butterfly of the far north that I finally was able to see and photograph in 2008. Although it is found throughout the northern counties, the short flight period of this butterfly and the limited distribution in Wisconsin makes it a difficult butterfly to observe. David Bratley of Washburn, WI said he sees it regularly each year in Bayfield County. His advice that in flight it looks very much like a Meadow Fritillary, with which it might be flying, was very accurate and I could easily see how someone might not even notice this species if both were present.

Identifying characteristics: Below, the hindwing is a mottled dark brown with a various shades of white. In the forewing there may be some lighter orange color and a small eyespot. Above, this species is orange with a two to four eyespots on the forewing and at least one small one on the hindwing. Some individuals of the Chryxus Arctic have much more obvious darker bands like the one pictured, but not all. The one characteristic when seen that is distinctive is the median line on the forewing below that has a pointed extension towards under the eyespot (visible in the photo by Tom Lewis). This is not present on the other Arctics.

Similar species: Below, the Jutta Arctic looks somewhat similar, but the habitat of these two species is vastly different, with the Chryxus Arctic being found in dry barren habitats and the Jutta being found in bogs, so it is unlikely that one would be seen with the other. The Jutta Arctic is also somewhat larger than this species.

Habitat: Jack Pine barrens and open ridges.

Flight: One brood from mid-May to mid-June.

Abundance: This species can become somewhat common where found, but its flight period is not very long in any one area.

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