A Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) seen at Brookside Gardens in Montgomery County, Maryland. It’s the Maryland state insect. I grew up in Maryland and this, the first time I’ve ever seen this beautiful butterfly.
Just a short while after seeing that butterfly I happened upon this caterpillar at Buck Hollow, in Shenandoah National Park, where I was working at invasives removal as a Master Naturalist. It is the caterpillar of the Baltimore Checkerspot.
Since then I’ve added White turtlehead (Chelone glabra) to my garden. That’s a larval host plant of Baltimore Checkerspot. So far I haven’t seen any but I’m still hopeful.
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2 responses to “A Butterfly Special To Maryland”
What a beautiful butterfly! I hope you see many more in your garden. Wonderful pictures!
Hi Diane! I’m hoping that I’ll get to see some of these beauties! We had such a HOT start to the summer and we’re in a severe drought now. Nearly all my plants are not happy about these conditions. In the meantime, maybe I can go up to Buck Mountain, where I saw that caterpillar. Caterpillars mean there are butterflies. So very glad you like the photos!
So very glad you are reading my posts!!
Bren