Zerene silverspot butterflies are distributed across the western US from coastal meadows and sagebrush steppe, to conifer forests and montane meadows. Females lay eggs in late summer/early fall when violet hosts have senesced, and first instar larvae overwinter. The unusual aspect of their life history is that, depending on when adults emerge, females may enter reproductive diapause for much of the summer to delay egg laying and reduce exposure of overwintering first instar larvae to desiccation. This is either, as some assume, a major contributor to local declines OR the reason that many remain wide-spread and secure.
