Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) dorsal.
Wildwood Conservation Area, St. Marys, Ontario, Canada.
July 9, 2012.
Baltimore Checkerspots are so cool. This one wasn't exactly "fresh", but it was the only one I saw today in relatively good condition. I should have visited this place a couple of weeks ago!
Like other Checkerspots, they lay their eggs in clusters on the foodplant (Turtlehead is their favourite around here) in late summer. The larvae feed gregariously in silk "tents" until it's time to overwinter. When they awake in the spring, they seem to be less picky about what they eat, and no longer feed in large groups.
Look for the conspicuous orange and black caterpillars in late May or June where Turtlehead grows. They might not be on the Turtlehead, but they're usually in that kind of habitat--wet meadows, marshes, bogs or swamps.
Around here (London, Ontario), the adults fly in late June/early July. There's only one brood per year. Males perch on plants in the wet meadow, setting up territories which they defend quite vigorously. You might not see them at all unless you venture into the wet meadow and flush them out. From a distance, it's harder to identify them in flight than you might expect with all that orange goin' on.
© Jay Cossey, PhotographsFromNature.com (PFN). All rights reserved. Licensing available. Contact: Jay Cossey, BIObus1@gmail.com
Tags: Brushfoot Butterfly Checkerspot Insecta Lepidoptera (Butterflies Moths) Ontario Photographer: Jay Cossey Wildwood Euphydryas phaeton Baltimore Checkerspot
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Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton).
Wildwood Conservation Area, St. Marys, Ontario, Canada.
July 9, 2012..
This was more typical of the several Baltimore Checkerspots I saw yesterday. Getting a little old and tattered. Just like me. :-(
© Jay Cossey, PhotographsFromNature.com (PFN). All rights reserved. Licensing available. Contact: Jay Cossey, BIObus1@gmail.com
Tags: Brushfoot Butterfly Checkerspot Insecta Lepidoptera (Butterflies Moths) Ontario Photographer: Jay Cossey Wildwood
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Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton)
Wildwood Conservation Area, St. Marys, Ontario, Canada.
July 9, 2012.
© Jay Cossey, PhotographsFromNature.com (PFN). All rights reserved. Licensing available. Contact: Jay Cossey, BIObus1@gmail.com
Tags: Brushfoot Butterfly Checkerspot Insecta Lepidoptera (Butterflies Moths) Ontario Photographer: Jay Cossey Wildwood Baltimore Checkerspot Euphydryas phaeton
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Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) backlit.
Wildwood Conservation Area, St. Marys, Ontario, Canada.
July 9, 2012.
© Jay Cossey, PhotographsFromNature.com (PFN). All rights reserved. Licensing available. Contact: Jay Cossey, BIObus1@gmail.com
Tags: Brushfoot Butterfly Checkerspot Insecta Lepidoptera (Butterflies Moths) Ontario Photographer: Jay Cossey Wildwood Euphydryas phaeton Baltimore Checkerspot
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Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton)
Wildwood Conservation Area, St. Marys, Ontario, Canada.
July 9, 2012.
Notice the bright orange "Brush-feet" and antennal clubs. :-)
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Tags: Brushfoot Butterfly Checkerspot Insecta Lepidoptera (Butterflies Moths) Ontario Photographer: Jay Cossey Wildwood Euphydryas phaeton Baltimore Checkerspot
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