Underside of hindwing with scattered, dark-green marbling. Late spring individuals are larger with less black and hyave yellow green marbling below. Some individuals are yellow. Males patrol, mostly in valleys, for females. Eggs are laid singly near tops of host plants.
Young caterpillars feed on flower buds, older ones on flowers and fruits.
Flower nectar, including that of host mustards, thistles, fiddleneck, and brodiaeas. Open oak woods in hills, orchards, fields, meadows, streamcourses, canyons. Alaska coast south to Baja California mainly to west of Pacific divide. G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. The butterflies of southern California.