Baltimore Checkerspot (Butterflies of Alabama)

Baltimore Checkerspot

Euphydryas phaeton

Summary ⁷

The Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) is a North American butterfly of the family, Nymphalidae. It is the official state insect of the U.S. State of Maryland since 1973.

North american ecology (us and canada) ⁸

Euphydryas phaeton is a resident of the eastern United States and into southern Canada (Scott 1986). Habitats are wet meadows around Chelone for most colonies in the northeast, drier ridges and other sites are chosen by most of the more southwestern colonies. Host plants are herbaceous or shrubs and include species from many families, including Scrophulariaceae, Valerianaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Plantaginaceae, Oleaceae, and rarely Compositae and Rosaceae. Eggs are laid on the host plant in clusters of 100-600 eggs/clutch. Individuals overwinter as third or fourth instar larvae, under ground litter. There is one flight each year with the approximate flight time late June-early Aug. in the northern part of the range and May 15-June 30 in the southern part of their range (Scott 1986).