The sagebrush checkerspot Chlosyne acastus is one of the large group of Nymphalid butterflies.   Like many butterflies, the patterns on the upper- and undersides of the wings differ dramatically, so the animal looks very different if it is basking with wings open instead of resting with wings closed.   As their name implies, sagebrush checkerspots are found in arid scrublands and woodlands; these were photographed in the southern part of Joshua Tree National Park, California.