However, its range is now limited to a few populations in Riverside and San Diego Counties. The Quino Checkerspot is a medium sized butterfly with a wingspread of about 3 cm. The wings are a patchwork of brown, red and yellow spots. The Quino checkerspot tends to be darker and redder than other subspecies. Its biology is similar to that of the Bay checkerspot.
Adults emerge in the early to mid-spring, mate and lay eggs.
The eggs hatch about a week and a half later and the larvae begin feeding. The main factor responsible for the butterfly's disappearance is clearly development. Much of the historic sage-scrub habitat has been built over. In areas where the habitat persists there are severe threats posed by grazing and the invasion of exotic plants. There are presently approximately 8 populations of the Quino Checkerspot known, at least one of which occurs in Baja California.