Anicia Checkerspot

Wings of the anicia checkerspot are mainly red with black bands and yellow on the dorsal side and pointed forewings. At higher elevations the species is noticeably darker. Their antennae clubs are yellow with a base of black The abdomen has white off-centered spots. Their brown compound eyes differentiates them from other species in the family. It has the longest dorsal arms in the genus. The anicia checkerspot differs from Euphydryas editha and Euphydryas gillettii due to their lack of white spots on the abdomen and a marigold band at the submarginal region and larger pointed forewings. The male genitalia is the only reliable visual difference to the similar Euphydryas chaldedona.

The anicia checkerspot is found in the western part of North America. They can be found as north as the Yukon to Manitoba and as far south as New Mexico and Arizona. The species can be found in any elevation, located in many environments such as mountain summits, grasslands, canyons, and dry conifer forests. They are non-migratory species and fly only once a year.

The larvae are herbivores that eat a variety of plants including Plantago erecta, Besseya wyomingensis, and Symphoricarpos spp.. The larvae are known to eat plants that contain iridoid glycosides. The diet of the species is dependent on the plants available in the area, and will feed on other plants if the preferred host plants are not available. Adults are nectarivores which drink from a variety of flowers such as penstemon and dogbane, and mud puddles for adult males.