Baltimore Checkerspot
(Euphydryas phaeton)
Baltimore Checkerspot sightings, by week (about)
Click to enlargeMuir Park SNA, Marquete Co., WI. July 11, 2004.
Click to enlargeGermania Marsh, Marquette Co., WI. July 19, 1999.
Click to enlargeGermania Marsh, Marquette Co., WI. July 5, 1999.
Click to enlargePuchyan Prairie SNA, Green Lake Co., WI. July 2, 2004.
The Baltimore Checkerspot is one of the most distinctive butterfly species in Wisconsin and is unlikely to be confused with any other butterfly. It is always a pleasure to see fresh Baltimore Checkerspots flying through the wet meadows where their primary host plant, Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) is not yet in flower. Baltimore Checkerspots are fairly easy to coax onto your hand from a good nectar source, and I am always amazed at how small they appear up close as compared to seeing them flying.
Identifying characteristics: A black butterfly with a row of orange spots on the margins of both wings, several rows of white submarginal spots, and a few orange and white spots nearer the body. Below this is the only one of the twenty True Brushfoots in Wisconsin that looks very similar both above and below.
Similar species: None in Wisconsin.
Habitat: Open wet meadows where its host plant turtlehead grows, and adjacent uplands where it may often be found nectaring on black-eyed susan, milkweeds, thistles, or other nectar sources.
Flight: One brood. Found from late June to late July.
Abundance: Often very common where it is found. In an NABA butterfly count on July 8, 2004 in Trempealeau County, we saw over 200 of these butterflies in a rather small area.
Recent Baltimore Checkerspot Sightings
| Date seen | County | Reported by |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Green Lake | Thomas Schultz |
| Saturday | Bayfield | Ryan Brady |
| 07–29–2008 | Bayfield | Ryan Brady |
| 07–27–2008 | Portage | Wayne Anderson |
| 07–26–2008 | Marquette | Mike Reese, David Reese |
| 07–24–2008 | Buffalo | Marcie O’Connor, Dave Hanson, Mike Reese |
| 07–20–2008 | Bayfield | Ryan Brady |
| 07–19–2008 | Bayfield | Ryan Brady |
| 07–19–2008 | Portage | Wayne Anderson |
| 07–19–2008 | Shawano | Rose Tiegs |
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Baltimore Checkerspot
Euphydryas phaeton