Baltimore Checkerspot
EntdeckenInsekten
Baltimore Checkerspot
euphydryas phaeton
The Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) is a strikingly beautiful brush-footed butterfly and the proud state insect of Maryland. Named after George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore, its vivid coloration perfectly matches the orange and black heraldry of his family crest. While adults are a fleeting mid-summer delight, their life cycle is intimately tied to specific wetland environments where their primary host plant thrives. Unfortunately, due to habitat loss, deer overgrazing, and changes in land management, these vibrant butterflies are becoming increasingly scarce in some parts of their historic range. Observing a colony of Baltimore Checkerspots fluttering gracefully among marsh vegetation is a highly rewarding experience for any nature enthusiast.
Lebensraum: Found primarily in wet meadows, bogs, marshes, and streamsides where its main host plant, the white turtlehead, grows abundantly.
Aussehen
This medium-sized butterfly is easily identified by its predominantly black wings adorned with a striking marginal row of bright reddish-orange crescents. Inward from these orange borders are several rows of creamy-white or pale yellow spots, with additional reddish-orange spots located near the wing bases. The underside of the wings displays a similar, but more heavily patterned, checkerboard mosaic of orange, white, and black. Its wingspan typically ranges from 4.5 to 7 centimeters. As a caterpillar, it is equally distinct, featuring a dark, spiky body heavily banded with vibrant orange stripes.
ReichAnimaliaStammArthropodaKlasseInsectaOrdnungLepidopteraFamilieNymphalidaeGattungEuphydryas
Kategorie
InsektenSeltenheit
Common
Gefahr
1/5 · Sehr gering
Snaps
Mach den ersten Snap!
Interessante Fakten
Before overwintering, the caterpillars construct a tough, silken tent near the ground where they sleep in a mass huddle until spring.
If a bird attempts to eat a Baltimore Checkerspot, it will likely spit it out immediately due to the bitter, toxic chemicals the butterfly absorbed as a caterpillar.
Its name honors George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore, because the butterfly's black and orange colors perfectly match his family's heraldic shield.
The Baltimore Checkerspot is the official state insect of Maryland, designated in 1973.
Besondere Fähigkeiten
Fähigkeit
Chemical Defense Sequestration
Larvae consume iridoid glycosides from their host plants, storing these bitter compounds to make themselves and the adult butterflies toxic and unpalatable to predators.
Fähigkeit
Communal Web Building
Young caterpillars spin large, conspicuous silk webs on their host plants, providing a shared shelter where they feed and safely overwinter together.
Fähigkeit
Solar Thermoregulation
The predominantly dark black coloration of their wings allows adult butterflies to efficiently absorb sunlight, rapidly warming their flight muscles on cool mornings.
Maße und Details
- Länge
- 2-3 cm
- Flügelspannweite
- 4-7 cm
- Gewicht
- 0.0001-0.0005 kg
- Lebenserwartung
- 1 Jahre
- Top Speed
- 12 km/h
- Gelegegröße
- 100-400
- Brutzeit
- 10-20 Tage
Ernährung und Fütterung
Larvae are entirely folivorous, feeding on specific host plants, while adults consume nectar from various flowering wetland plants.
Altersunterschiede: Caterpillars chew on the leaves of host plants, whereas adults transition to using a proboscis to sip floral nectar.
Hauptnahrung
- White Turtlehead leaves
- English Plantain leaves
- Milkweed nectar
- Wild Blackberry nectar
Nahrungssuche
- Foraging
Ökologische Zusammenhänge
host plant
White Turtlehead
Chelone glabra
Primary larval host plant where eggs are laid and early caterpillars feed.
host plant
English Plantain
Plantago lanceolata
Secondary host plant adopted by older caterpillars as they disperse to forage.
mutualism
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Major nectar source for adult butterflies during mid-summer flight periods.
Merkmale
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Sammlungen
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Sicherheit
Gefahr
1/5 · Sehr gering
Noch keine besonderen Sicherheitshinweise.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Wie identifiziert man Baltimore Checkerspot?
Der einfachste Weg, Baltimore Checkerspot zu bestimmen, ist die Verwendung der Naturführer-App Snappit.
Was ist der/die/das länge von Baltimore Checkerspot?
2-3 cm
Was ist der/die/das flügelspannweite von Baltimore Checkerspot?
4-7 cm
Was ist der/die/das gewicht von Baltimore Checkerspot?
0.0001-0.0005 kg
Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Baltimore Checkerspot?
1 Jahre
Was ist der/die/das top Speed von Baltimore Checkerspot?
12 km/h
Was frisst Baltimore Checkerspot?
Larvae are entirely folivorous, feeding on specific host plants, while adults consume nectar from various flowering wetland plants.
Wo findet man Baltimore Checkerspot normalerweise?
Found primarily in wet meadows, bogs, marshes, and streamsides where its main host plant, the white turtlehead, grows abundantly.
Snap-Karte
Zoome hinein, um Cluster aufzulösen und zu sehen, wo dieses Objekt fotografiert wurde.
Karte wird geladen…
Neueste Snaps
Neueste Snaps erscheinen hier, wenn neue Beobachtungen hinzukommen.
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