Speyeria hesperis elko Austin, 1983

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 : 38

Speyeria hesperis elko Austin, 1983

( Figure 37 )

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 ) [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.

Figures

Figure 36-40. Type images for Speyeria spp.; dorsal, ventral, and label images. 36) Speyeria hesperis viola holotype, described as Speyeria atlantis viola, male, AMNH. 37) Speyeria hesperis elko holotype, described as Speyeria atlantis elko, male, NVMC. 38) Speyeria hesperis tetonia holotype, described as Speyeria atlantis tetonia, male, AMNH. 39) Speyeria hesperis wasatchia holotype, described as Speyeria atlantis wasatchia, male, AMNH. 40) Speyeria hesperis chitone lectotype, described as Argynnis chitone, male, CMNH. Images 36 and 38-40 by James C. Dunford; 37 by George Baumgartner and Scott Klette.