Coenonympha tullia

Coenonympha tullia is resident of the northern United States, Alaska, and across most of Canada (Scott 1986). Habitats are prairie, woodland, salt marsh and arctic tundra. Host plants are grasses, including Stipa and Poa pratensis. Individuals overwinter as larvae. There is a variable number of flights based on latitude, with one flight in the northern part of the range and in the Rockies, with approximate flight time July15-Aug. 15 and multiple flights in the southern part of their range, with the approximate flight times Mar. 31-Oct. 31 (Scott 1986).

Introduction:

A holarctic species that has many forms/subspecies in North America.

A Palearctic species whose Nearctic former cognates are here considered as a separate taxon, C. california, based on the results of Kodandaramaiah and Wahlberg (2009).

The flight period occurs between mid-June and early August. The large heath is single-brooded; eggs are laid singly at the base of the foodplant on dead stems. The larvae hibernate when still small, and emerge in March to complete their development (3). Pupae develop towards the end of April or early May and are attached to stems. Adults emerge around a month later (2).

Adult large heath butterflies always have their wings closed when at rest; males are smoky orange-brown in colour, and females are paler (1). Both sexes have pale brown undersides featuring a creamy white band and a number of eyespots (1). The green caterpillar is around 2.5 centimetres in length and has two white bands along its sides (2).

Our smallest satyrine. The unmarked clay-ochre upperside is unique; the underside is tan-grey (ochre forewing base), with a whitish, irregular median line, and often an apical forewing spot, occasionally with remnants of one or two (rarely more) hindwing marginal spots. The ground colour and development of the eyespots is variable. Females are paler overall, and ocasionally have a dark apical forewing spot on the upperside. Many names have been applied to the western North American ringlets over the years (eg. C. california, inornata and ochracea), a reflection of the fact that it is unclear just how many species are found here, and whether or not any are the same species as the European tullia. There is currently no convincing evidence for any particular interpretation.  Based on differences in ecology and appearance, there appear to be at least two distinct entities in Alberta, one inhabiting far northern boreal fens and grasslands of the Peace-Athabasca delta region (ssp. mackenziei), and the widespread ssp. benjamini.

As defined here, tullia ranges throughout much of the northern hemisphere, from Scandinavia to AK, south to CA and NM, east to Nfld. (Scott 1986).

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Found in Europe, Asia, Canada and western USA, the large heath has undergone serious declines throughout much of Europe. In Britain, it is largely restricted to Scotland and the far north of England with a few small populations persisting in central and eastern England (3) and north Wales (4).

Any grassy, open habitats, although absent from much of the boreal forest.

Comments: A great variety of open to lightly wooded grasslands, natural or otherwise, as well as marshes and grassy or sedgy edges of bogs.

Inhabits wet, boggy habitats such as lowland raised bogs, upland blanket bogs and damp acidic moorland where the main foodplant, hare's tail cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum) occurs (3). Abundant sources of the most important adult nectar source, cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix) are also essential (3).

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

The larval hosts are unconfirmed. Although "grasses" are commonly cited, it is not clear which and how many species are actually suitable. Subspecies mackenziei is associated with sedge fens, so sedges rather than grasses are more likely hosts.

Adults feed on flower nectar. Males patrol for females (Scott, 1986).

One flight peaking in June, and at least a partial second brood southward from Aug - Oct.

Although this species is often abundant and can be encountered in most grassy habitats in Alberta, little life history information is available. Hardy's (1960) account of Vancouver Island populations (subspecies insulana, of special conservation concern in BC) is apparently the only one for western Canada: the pale, brown-flecked eggs are barrel shaped, and mature larvae are green with a blue-grey sheen. Larvae have several dorsal and subdorsal dark green lines and a yellow lateral line. The pupa is compact, green and lined with brown, and hangs suspended from grasses.  Ringlet populations in southern Canada are able to complete two generations per year; on southern Vancouver Island, eggs laid by the spring brood either develop to emerge as adults in the summer, or overwinter as mature larvae (Hardy 1960). The can also hibernate as young larvae, offpsring of the second brood. A similar life cycle has been documented in southern Ontario. Only third instar larvae overwinter in northern Ontario, resulting in a single yearly brood (Eberlie 1990).  The distribution and taxonomic status of the taxon mackenziei requires further research before a conservation status assessment can be made; it is currently known only from the Fort Smith region northward along the Mackenzie River to Great Slave Lake.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 38
Specimens with Barcodes: 224
Species With Barcodes: 1

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

There are 38 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.

Download FASTA File

Subspecies benjamini is not of concern. The status of mackenziei is not known.

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Listed on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, with respect to sale only (3).

Huge losses of suitable habitat have occurred throughout Europe as a result of large-scale drainage works, commercial forestry plantations and peat extraction. Inappropriate habitat management, such as overgrazing, may be degrading once suitable habitat and causing losses (3).

Lowland raised bogs and blanket bogs are listed under the EC Habitats Directive, and peatland habitats have been the focus of a number of conservation campaigns. Despite this, peat is still extracted for use in gardens and in horticulture. As large populations of species are more resistant to local extinctions, it is important that large areas of remaining habitats must be conserved and suitable management practices encouraged. Homeowners can help by choosing to use peat-free alternatives in their gardens (3).