Description: Wings orange with dark “checkerspots,” 31 - 44 mm (1.22 - 1.74 in.) wingspan. Body with greatly reduced front legs. Coloration of this subspecies varies between colonies, from yellow-orange to orange to a very dark orange. Larval host plants include Indian paintbrush (Castilleja linariifolia) and Clokey wavyleaf paintbrush (Castilleja martinii var. clokeyi). Flight season from May through July.
Diet: Nectar sources observed include desert wallflower (Erysimum asperum) and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).
Habitat: Meadows and avalanche chutes, within the alpine zone, bristlecone pine, mixed conifer forest, and pinyon-juniper communities. Elevations: 2,100 - 3,200 m (6,890 - 10,500 ft).
Range: Endemic to the Spring Mountains. Small populations occur above the Lee Canyon ski area and its ridges and above Kyle Canyon up to Charleston Peak. Also known from Griffith Peak to Upper Carpenter Canyon, and Harris Mountain.
Comments: This subspecies has three unique phenotypic expressions, ranging from nearly black to light orange; the larvae can also extend diapause for up to several years, enhancing survival rate.