Tag: Nevada

Nevada, often referred to as the “Silver State,” is located in the western United States. Renowned for its vast deserts and striking mountain ranges, the state boasts a diverse landscape that includes the arid Mojave Desert in the south and the forested Sierra Nevada mountains in the west. The state is famously home to Las Vegas, a vibrant city known for its bustling casinos, entertainment venues, and nightlife. Beyond the glitz of Las Vegas, Nevada offers rich history in its ghost towns, a legacy of the 19th-century mining boom. The state also features significant natural attractions, such as Lake Tahoe and Great Basin National Park, offering a wide range of outdoor activities. Nevada’s economy is driven by tourism, mining, and, increasingly, technology, making it a dynamic state with a blend of natural beauty and modern attractions.

Desert Five-Spot (Eremalche rotundifolia)

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The Desert Five-Spot (Eremalche rotundifolia) is a striking annual wildflower commonly observed in Death Valley National Park, particularly during favorable bloom years following sufficient winter rainfall.

Desert Five-Spot (Eremalche rotundifolia) - Photo by James L Rathbun
Desert Five-Spot (Eremalche rotundifolia) – Photo by James L Rathbun

Scientific Taxonomy

  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Phylum: Tracheophyta (vascular plants)
  • Class: Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons)
  • Order: Malvales
  • Family: Malvaceae (mallow family, which includes hibiscus and cotton)
  • Genus: Eremalche
  • Species: Eremalche rotundifolia (A. Gray) Greene

This species is a dicotyledonous annual herb native to desert regions.

Description

The desert five-spot is a low-growing annual herb typically reaching 8–60 cm (3–24 inches) in height. It has an erect, sparsely branched stem (often simple or branched only at the base) covered in bristly hairs; stems are frequently reddish-brown. The leaves are distinctive: rounded to kidney-shaped (reniform), 1.5–6 cm broad, with toothed or crenate margins, and borne on long petioles. Leaves are green (sometimes with reddish phases) and covered in short bristly hairs.

The most striking feature is the flower: bisexual, cup- to globe-shaped, with five overlapping petals 15–30 mm long. Petals are rose-pink to lilac or purplish-pink, each featuring a prominent dark red-to-purple spot at the base that serves as a nectar guide for pollinators. When fully open, the petals curve slightly inward, forming a nearly spherical “lantern” shape (hence the occasional nickname “Chinese lantern flower”). The center reveals a ring of light pink stigmas surrounding smaller stamens. The calyx has 5 lobes, and three small bractlets subtend it. After flowering, the plant produces a schizocarp fruit that splits into 25–35 wafer-like segments.

Note on identification: Do not confuse it with the unrelated “five-spot” (Nemophila maculata), a white-flowered plant of the Sierra Nevada and foothills with purple spots at the petal tips.

Blooming Period and Behavior

The beautiful and delicate flower of the Desert Five Spot Flower. - Photo by James L Rathbun
The beautiful and delicate flower of the Desert Five Spot Flower. – Photo by James L Rathbun

Flowering occurs primarily from March to May, with peak displays in the lower desert elevations from mid-February through mid-April, depending on winter rainfall. In Death Valley National Park, it is a signature wildflower during “superbloom” years (such as the notable events following heavy rains).

The flowers exhibit daily nyctinastic movement: they open in the morning (or midday) to reveal the vivid red spots and close at night or late afternoon. Leaves also show diurnal movement to optimize sunlight exposure. The red basal spots on each petal function as “runways” directing bees and other insects to the nectar at the flower base, aiding pollination. The plant thrives in years with adequate winter precipitation and is one of the more sought-after desert wildflowers for its vivid color contrast against the arid landscape.

Range and Distribution

Eremalche rotundifolia is native to the Mojave Desert and Colorado Desert (part of the Sonoran Desert region) in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It occurs in southeastern California (including Death Valley National Park and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park), southern Nevada, western Arizona, and extends slightly into Utah. In California it is found primarily in the Desert bioregion (excluding the high Desert Mountains). Elevation range is approximately -50 to 1,500 m (-164 to 4,921 ft), though it is most common between 50 and 1,200 m.

The closed flower of the Desert Five Spot Flower. Photo by James L Rathbun
The closed flower of the Desert Five Spot Flower. Photo by James L Rathbun

Habitat and Ecology

This species prefers open, sunny sites in dry desert scrub, desert flats, sandy or rocky washes, alluvial fans, and open stony areas. It grows best in fast-draining, gravelly alkaline soils and is frequently associated with creosote bush scrub communities. In Death Valley National Park it appears on lower-elevation alluvial fans, foothills, and along roadsides (e.g., Badwater Road areas) following sufficient winter rains.

As an annual, it completes its life cycle quickly after winter rains, producing abundant seeds that remain dormant in the soil until the next favorable season. It provides nectar for native bees and supports larvae of certain butterflies and skippers (including confirmed hosts for Northern White-Skipper and Common Checkered-Skipper).

The desert five-spot is a beautiful and iconic Mojave Desert wildflower, particularly celebrated in Death Valley for its glowing pink blooms and striking red-spotted “lantern” flowers during spring displays. Its presence is highly dependent on winter precipitation, making it a highlight of rare superbloom events.

Pebble Pincusion (Chaenactis carphoclinia)

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Scientific Name: Chaenactis carphoclinia A. Gray (primarily var. carphoclinia in Death Valley and most of its range)

Pebble Pincusion (Chaenactis carphoclinia) Found near Ashford Mill, Death Valley National Park. Photo Heather Rathbun
Pebble Pincusion (Chaenactis carphoclinia) Found near Ashford Mill, Death Valley National Park. Photo Heather Rathbun

Scientific Taxonomy

  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Clade: Tracheophytes (vascular plants)
  • Clade: Angiosperms (flowering plants)
  • Clade: Eudicots
  • Clade: Asterids
  • Order: Asterales
  • Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower or Daisy family)
  • Genus:Chaenactis (pincushions or dustymaidens)
  • Species:Chaenactis carphoclinia A. Gray

Common names include Pebble Pincushion, Pincushion Flower, and Straw-bed Pincushion. Two varieties exist: the widespread var. carphoclinia (smaller plant, common in Death Valley) and the rarer var. peirsonii (larger, limited to southern California’s Santa Rosa Mountains).

Description

Pebble Pincushion is a native annual forb/herb that grows from an erect, branching stem (usually one main stem) reaching 4–16 inches (10–40 cm) tall, occasionally up to 2 feet (60 cm) in favorable conditions. The stems are whitish-pubescent (hairy).

Leaves are green, mostly linear, and pinnately dissected or lobed (basal leaves highly divided and wither early; cauline leaves smaller with slender petioles), up to 4–10 cm long.

The inflorescence consists of 1–several small discoid flower heads (no ray flowers) per stem, each 0.25–1 cm wide. Heads feature white to pinkish-tinted disk florets with enlarged outer corollas and prominently exserted (protruding) anthers. Flat, sharp-pointed phyllaries (bracts) line the heads and often appear reddish. The fruit is a small achene tipped with a scaly pappus.

The plant resembles other desert Chaenactis species (e.g., Esteve’s Pincushion), but is generally smaller with multiple cream-to-white heads per stem.

Blooms

As a desert annual, Pebble Pincushion germinates after winter rains and blooms primarily in spring (January/February/March through May or June, depending on elevation and rainfall). In Death Valley, it is a signature species during “superbloom” years, often peaking in March–April alongside other desert annuals. The flowers are visited by bees, butterflies, and other small insects for nectar and pollen.

Range and Habitat

Pebble Pincushion is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Its range spans Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Baja California, and Sonora—primarily in the Mojave Desert, with extensions into the Sonoran Desert, southern Great Basin, and northwestern Chihuahuan Desert. Elevations range from 300–6,200 feet (90–1,900 m).

It thrives in rocky, gravelly, or sandy soils, including washes, open plains, mesas, slopes, and flats within desert shrublands. In Death Valley National Park, it is commonly found in gravelly washes and rocky areas (e.g., near Emigrant Pass, Badwater, and Mosaic Canyon), where it can form dense displays after sufficient winter precipitation. Seeds may be consumed by birds, small mammals, and desert tortoises.

Pebble Pincushion growing in typical Death Valley habitat—gravelly washes with mixed desert annuals under clear desert skies.

This hardy annual plays a key role in desert ecosystems as a quick-response bloomer that stabilizes soil and supports pollinators and wildlife following rainy periods.

Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui)

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The Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui) is one of the most widespread and fascinating species of butterfly, often called the “cosmopolitan” butterfly due to its exceptional global distribution.

Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui)
Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui)

Scientific Taxonomy

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Family: Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies)
  • Genus: Vanessa
  • Species: cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)

It belongs to the tribe Nymphalini within the subfamily Nymphalinae.

Description

The adult Painted Lady is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of approximately 2–3.5 inches (5–9 cm), typically around 5.1–7.3 cm from wing tip to wing tip.

The upperside of the wings is predominantly orange-brown to pinkish-orange, with darker bases. The forewings feature a prominent black apical (tip) area adorned with prominent white spots and a white subapical bar along the leading edge. The hindwings display a submarginal row of five small black spots, sometimes with blue scales. The wing edges are distinctly scalloped.

The underside is more subdued and mottled with patterns of black, brown, gray, and some red-orange, featuring four small submarginal eyespots on the hindwing (a key distinguishing feature from similar species like the American Lady, Vanessa virginiensis, which has two larger eyespots).

Larvae (caterpillars) are grayish-brown with darker ends, a yellow dorsal stripe, and branched spines along the back and sides. Eggs are pale green with vertical ribs.

Behavior

Painted Ladies are highly migratory and fast-flying, capable of speeds up to 25–30 mph (40–50 km/h). They are strong, directional fliers that often use favorable winds.

Males defend territories against other males. In warmer climates, mating can occur year-round, though it ceases during colder periods. Adults are avid nectar feeders, visiting a wide variety of flowers (especially taller perennials), while larvae are polyphagous herbivores feeding on over 100 plant species, with favorites including thistles (Cirsium and Carduus), mallows, and other composites.

Their most remarkable behavior is long-distance migration, which is multi-generational (no single individual completes the full round trip). In North America, they overwinter in warmer southern regions (such as Mexico or the southwestern U.S. deserts) and move northward in spring, often triggered by rainfall and host plant availability, reaching as far as Canada and occasionally Alaska. In Europe and Africa, they undertake even longer journeys, including a documented 9,000-mile (≈14,500 km) round trip from tropical Africa to northern Europe (near the Arctic Circle) and back, spanning up to six generations. Southward return migrations often occur at high altitudes (over 500 meters), making them less visible. Migration appears driven primarily by environmental cues (e.g., weather, resource availability) rather than strict genetics.

Range

Vanessa cardui is the most widely distributed butterfly species in the world, found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia (though a related species, the Australian Painted Lady, V. kershawi, occurs there).

Its range spans:

  • North America (from subarctic Canada and southeastern Alaska south through the continental U.S. and Mexico)
  • Central America
  • Europe
  • Asia
  • Africa
  • Various oceanic islands

It inhabits diverse open habitats including fields, meadows, prairies, gardens, deserts, and disturbed areas, up to elevations of around 3,900 meters in some regions. Populations fluctuate dramatically with outbreaks occurring in some years due to favorable conditions for breeding and migration.

This adaptable, highly mobile species exemplifies resilience in the face of varying climates and habitats.

Sagebrush Checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus)

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The Sagebrush Checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus) is a medium-sized butterfly belonging to the brush-footed family, well-adapted to arid environments in western North America.

Sagebrush Checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus)
Sagebrush Checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus)

Scientific Taxonomy

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Family: Nymphalidae
  • Subfamily: Nymphalinae
  • Genus: Chlosyne
  • Species: Chlosyne acastus (W.H. Edwards, 1874)

Several subspecies are recognized, such as C. a. neumoegeni in parts of the southwestern range. The species is sometimes referred to as the Acastus Checkerspot in certain sources.

Description

The Sagebrush Checkerspot has a wingspan of approximately 1.5–2 inches (3.9–5.1 cm), with forewing lengths around 1.8–2.4 cm in some populations.

The upperside features a distinctive checkered pattern of black, orange-brown, and orange (paler in males, often brighter in females). The wings show black lines, smudges, and checks separating bands of pale to yellow-orange; the hindwing base may appear darker (sometimes largely black with limited orange in males). Postmedian bands can show red-orange tones in some individuals.

The underside is more contrasting, with the hindwing displaying bands of chalk-white (or pearly white spots) and brick red, outlined by black veins and edges. This ventral pattern, with more extensive white compared to similar species, aids identification.

It resembles other checkerspots (e.g., Northern Checkerspot or Rockslide Checkerspot) but is distinguished by habitat preference, lighter ventral banding, and specific wing markings.

(Images: Examples of Sagebrush Checkerspot upperside and underside views from various western U.S. locations.)

Behavior

Adults feed primarily on flower nectar from various plants in their arid habitats. Males perch in strategic locations (such as gulches or along washes) and sometimes actively patrol these areas to locate and court females. Flight is typically rapid and direct when disturbed, typical of many checkerspot species.

The flight period varies by region but generally occurs in spring to early summer (e.g., late April to late June in parts of the range like Oregon). Larvae feed on host plants in the Asteraceae family, including species such as green rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus), gray rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), desert yellow fleabane (Erigeron linearis), Mojave aster, and various asters in the genus Dieteria. The species is univoltine (one generation per year) in most areas, with adults timed to coincide with host plant and nectar availability.

Range and Habitat

The Sagebrush Checkerspot occurs across the western United States, from eastern North Dakota westward to eastern Washington, and southward to New Mexico, southern Arizona, and eastern California. It is found in states including Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and parts of the Great Basin and Southwest. Populations extend into shrub-steppe regions of southern British Columbia in some accounts, though primarily a U.S. species.

It inhabits dry, arid lowlands, typically below 5,000 feet in many areas (e.g., below 3,000 feet in parts of the Columbia and Snake River basins). Preferred habitats include sagebrush scrub, pinyon-juniper woodlands, dry gulches, washes, canyons, brushy flats, sage deserts, and hilly short-grass prairies. It thrives in shrub-steppe and semi-arid environments dominated by sagebrush and associated plants.

Overall conservation status is secure (G5 globally in many assessments), though local populations may face threats from habitat alteration in arid regions. It is not generally considered rare or imperiled across its broad range.

White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata)

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The white-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata), also commonly known as the hummingbird moth or hawk moth due to its rapid, hovering flight and nectar-feeding behavior, is a member of the family Sphingidae. It is one of the most widespread and abundant sphinx moths in the Americas.

White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata)
White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata)

Description of the Adult

Adult white-lined sphinx moths are large and robust, with a wingspan of 2.5–3.5 inches (6–9 cm). The forewings are predominantly dark olive-brown to gray-brown, featuring a prominent broad pale tan or white band running diagonally from the base to the tip, along with narrower white streaks along the veins (the source of the “white-lined” name). The hindwings are darker, often blackish with a bright pink or rose central band and black spots. The thorax is “furry” and robust, the abdomen conical and extending beyond the wings at rest, and the proboscis is long for reaching deep into flowers. They are strong fliers, often mistaken for hummingbirds, and are primarily crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) but can be diurnal in some conditions.

Life Cycle Stages

Like all Lepidoptera, H. lineata undergoes complete metamorphosis with four distinct stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult.

  • Egg: Females lay small, spherical, pale green to yellowish eggs singly or in small groups on the leaves or stems of host plants. Each female can produce hundreds of eggs. Incubation typically lasts about 1 week, depending on temperature.
  • Larva (Caterpillar): The caterpillars are highly variable in color and pattern (polymorphic), ranging from bright yellow-green to dark green, black, or yellowish forms, often with complex markings including black, yellow, orange, or red spots, lines, or stripes along the body. All forms feature a prominent flexible horn (caudal horn) at the rear end, typical of sphingid larvae. They grow up to 3–3.5 inches (7–9 cm) long through five instars, feeding voraciously on foliage. This stage lasts about 3–4 weeks. In high-density years, caterpillars can form mass migrations across landscapes after defoliating host plants.
  • Pupa: Mature larvae burrow 1–4 inches into the soil to form a shallow chamber and pupate. The pupa is shiny dark brown to reddish-brown, spindle-shaped, about 1.5–2 inches long, with a prominent cremaster (hook-like structure) at the rear for anchoring. The pupal stage lasts 2–3 weeks in summer or longer if overwintering (in cooler regions, pupae may diapause through winter). Emergence is triggered by temperature and moisture cues.
  • Adult: Adults emerge from the pupa, live 1–2 weeks, and focus on reproduction and nectaring. They are important pollinators of tubular flowers.

The species typically completes 2 generations per year in most of its range, with multiple generations in warmer southern areas and potentially one in cooler northern zones. In some regions, it is migratory, with populations moving northward in spring and sometimes failing to overwinter in colder areas.

Host Plants and Ecology

Larvae are extremely polyphagous, feeding on a wide variety of plants across families such as Onagraceae (e.g., evening primrose Oenothera spp.), Portulacaceae (purslane), Vitaceae (grape), Rosaceae (apple, rose), and many others including willowherb, four o’clock, elm, tomato, fuchsia, and more. Adults nectar from long-tubed flowers like honeysuckle, columbine, larkspur, salvia, and evening primrose.

Geographic Range and Habitat

Hyles lineata has one of the broadest distributions among North American sphinx moths, ranging from Central America (including parts of South America in some records) through Mexico, the entire contiguous United States, and into southern Canada. It is occasionally reported in the West Indies, and vagrants have appeared in Eurasia and Africa. It prefers open habitats such as deserts, fields, gardens, prairies, woodlands edges, suburbs, and disturbed areas, thriving in diverse climates from arid to temperate. In areas like Nevada (including Las Vegas vicinity), it is common, especially during irruption years when populations boom due to abundant wildflowers or host plants.

This species plays a key ecological role as a pollinator and herbivore, with occasional outbreaks benefiting certain cultural groups historically (e.g., as a food source). It is not considered a major pest in most contexts, though larvae can defoliate garden plants during population spikes.