Harris’ Checkerspot
(Chlosyne harrisii)
Harris’ Checkerspot sightings, by week (about)
Click to enlargeSandhill Wildlife Area, Wood Co., WI, June 25, 2004.
Click to enlargeSandhill Wildlife Area, Wood Co., WI, June 25, 2004.
Click to enlargeSandhill Wildlife Area, Wood Co., WI, June 20, 2004.
Click to enlargeSandhill Wildlife Area, Wood Co., WI, June 25, 2004.
Click to enlargeSandhill Wildlife Area, Wood Co., WI, June 20, 2004.
Click to enlargeSandhill Wildlife Area, Wood Co., WI, July 6, 2003.
This species is not a common butterfly in Wisconsin, despite its larval host, Flat-top Aster, being widely distributed. I have only seen this species in two locations in Wisconsin, one in Wood County and one in Waushara. The last photo is the most common form of this species while the fourth and fifth photos are very open in the hindwing above. Glassberg’s BTB The East does not mention this variation, while Brock and Kaufman’s Butterflies of North America does list it as a variety. Howe in 1975 lists var. hanhami as occurring in northern Wisconsin “where it intergrades with var. harissii”. The plate of this subspecies listed in Howe’s book is very similar to the ones in these photos.
Identifying characteristics: Above this species is very similar to the other Checkerspots and Crescents, with a basic orange base with black markings. The general form that is shown in most eastern butterfly books shows the upper wings are very similar to the Silvery and Gorgone Checkerspots with a very distinct orange C through the middle of the wings. In some Wisconsin butterflies the wing area is much more open, similar to the Northern Crescent, missing some of the black markings, and therefore looking very different. Below this species is more reddish/orange with three rows of white markings on the hind wing.
Similar species: The Harris Checkerspot is most likely to be confused with the Silvery Checkerspot that looks very similar above, but below does not have a complete row of white crescents near the wing margins like the Harris Checkerspot, but has a single large crescent (more than a half moon) in middle margin of the hind wing. The Silvery Checkerspot is much lighter below, especially in older specimens.
Habitat: Bog edges and brushy, moist meadows where its host plant, Flat-topped asters, are found.
Flight: One brood in June and early July. Michigan early and late dates are May 31 and July 30 respectively.
Abundance: This is a very local species in Wisconsin, and is not usually found in abundance, as are the other Checkerspots.
Recent Harris’ Checkerspot Sightings
| Date seen | County | Reported by |
|---|---|---|
| 07–13–2008 | Wood | Ron Arnold |
| 07–12–2008 | Bayfield | Ryan Brady |
| 07–04–2008 | Sauk | Wayne Anderson |
| 07–03–2008 | Wood | Ron Arnold, Ann Thering, Mike Reese |
| 07–01–2008 | Price | Mike Reese |
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Harris’ Checkerspot
Chlosyne harrisii