# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Found primarily in wet meadows, bogs, marshes, and streamsides where its main host plant, the white turtlehead, grows abundantly. ![Baltimore Checkerspot](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/210425087/medium.jpg) Photo: Alan Kneidel, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/210425087) ## Appearance 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Euphydryas ## Interesting facts - 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. ## Special abilities - **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. - **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. - **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. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 2-3 cm - **Wingspan:** 4-7 cm - **Weight:** 0.0001-0.0005 kg - **Lifespan:** 1 years - **Speed:** 12 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 100-400 - **Incubation:** 10-20 days ## Diet & Feeding Larvae are entirely folivorous, feeding on specific host plants, while adults consume nectar from various flowering wetland plants. - **Age differences:** Caterpillars chew on the leaves of host plants, whereas adults transition to using a proboscis to sip floral nectar. - **Primary Foods:** White Turtlehead leaves, English Plantain leaves, Milkweed nectar, Wild Blackberry nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Host plant:** [White Turtlehead](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) — Major nectar source for adult butterflies during mid-summer flight periods. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Baltimore Checkerspot? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Baltimore Checkerspot? 2-3 cm ### What is Baltimore Checkerspot's wingspan? 4-7 cm ### How much does Baltimore Checkerspot weigh? 0.0001-0.0005 kg ### How long does Baltimore Checkerspot live? 1 years ### How fast can Baltimore Checkerspot move? 12 km/h ### What does Baltimore Checkerspot eat? Larvae are entirely folivorous, feeding on specific host plants, while adults consume nectar from various flowering wetland plants. ### Where is Baltimore Checkerspot usually found? Found primarily in wet meadows, bogs, marshes, and streamsides where its main host plant, the white turtlehead, grows abundantly. ## Where to spot - [Coindre Hall Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/coindre-hall-park) — New York, US · Park - [Hidden Lake Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hidden-lake-gardens) — Michigan, US · Botanical Garden - [Norman Bird Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/norman-bird-sanctuary) — Rhode Island, US · Nature Reserve - [Parc de l'île Saint-Quentin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-de-l-le-saint-quentin) — Quebec, CA · Park - [East Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-hill-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Garden in the Woods](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garden-in-the-woods) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Baltimore Checkerspot](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/baltimore-checkerspot) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Baltimore Checkerspot: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/baltimore-checkerspot)