The Baltimore Checkerspot is in the family of brush-footed butterflies, or Nymphalidae. Their front legs are small which gives them the appearance of having four legs rather than six.

The range of the Baltimore checkerspot extends from southern Canada and the eastern United States to the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina and west across the Great Lakes region. 

Baltimore Checkerspot is the state insect of Maryland. The population has faced significant decline and is currently listed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources on the Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Animal List.

Deer browse is said to be a prime reason for Baltimore Checkerspot’s decline. White Turtlehead is the host plant of these butterfly caterpillars, particularly during the warm months when the caterpillars are small, and deer love this plant. As the caterpillars grow they’re able to use other host plants such as Arrowwood Viburnum, English Plantain, Penstemon and Honeysuckle. As adults, the Baltimore Checkerspots nectar at flowering plants including Common Milkweed, Dogbane, several species of Mountain Mint, and wild Blackberry. But it’s White Turtlehead that they seek for laying their eggs.