Speyeria hesperis elko Austin, 1983

Speyeria hesperis elko Austin, 1983

( Figure 37 View Figure 36-40 )

Speyeria atlantis elko Austin, 1983: 244-245 .

Speyeria hesperis elko Austin [ Scott et al. 1998].

Common name. Elko fritillary.

Type deposited. Holotype at Nevada State Museum ( Figure 37 View Figure 36-40 ) [not at McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity as reported by Pelham (2008)].

Type locality. ca. 10 miles south of Mountain City, Wild Horse Creek Campground, Owyhee River Valley, Elko County, Nevada.

Type label data. “ HOLOTYPE Speyeria atlantis elko Austin ”.

Identification, taxonomy, and variation. The cline involved with S. h. elko is largely unsilvered and includes S. h. tetonia ( Wyoming), S. h. viola ( Idaho), S. h. irene , S. h. cottlei , and S. h. hanseni ( California). Speyeria hesperis elko is pale, similar to other Speyeria in the Great Basin ( Austin 1983). Adult wingspan ranges from 50-55 mm.

Range. Known only from the type locality: Jarbidge Mountains, Owyhee River Valley, and Independence Range, Nevada.

Life history. Males patrol the creek bottom along the Owyhee River. Adult flight period includes late June through mid-August.