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The Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas phaeton) has been the state insect for Maryland since 1973. Named after the first Lord Baltimore because it exhibits the same orange and black colors found on the crest for the American Colonist as well as the Maryland state flag, the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly is described as possessing a 2 ½-inch dark brown body with wings that are spotted with the colors of orange and white. Possessing short hairy forelegs indicates that it this insect is apart of the family Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies). Such a characteristic prevents the creature from walking, suggesting that it is only mobile in the air. Generally it keeps a low flight range that is just above vegetation. The above and following information was acquired from the Maryland at Glance web page under the state symbols category.

The butterfly is found mostly in the north central and north eastern regions of the UnitedStates and thrives in a habitat that has wet meadows, ditches and abundant with the White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) plant. The White Turtlehead is a member of the snapdragon family and is described as having a white pink rimmed flower. The Baltimore Checkerspot is dependent on this host plant as it provides nourishment and facilitates reproduction. The female butterfly will often lay several hundred eggs between late July and early August under the pedals of the creamy white pink rimmed flowers that grow on the Turtlehead. Over a course of a few weeks these eggs will hatch into orange and black caterpillars. The caterpillars will feed off the host plant during its period of growth until it emerges into an adult butterfly.

“Perilous Beauty”, an article written by Mary Battiata from the Washington Post informs of records from the 1930’s that show the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly having “large colonies in Rock Creek Park, and all over Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.” At present they appear to be experiencing an accelerating decline. Listed as a threatened species in 2002, Pat Durkin, a butterfly conservationist from the Baltimore Checkerspot Restoration Project of Maryland, claims that the insect is currently experiencing a regional decline because of “habitat change and degradation due to global warming.”

The Global Warming Action Alliance , whose mission is to educate about climate change, suggest that “warmer temperatures have forced about 80% of all Baltimore Checkerspot Butterflies northward up to 50 miles in the last 25 years.” Unfortunately, as the species migrates northward the host plant that it is dependent on will not, “depriving the Checkerspot of home, family and nutrition.”

Other more obvious reasons for the regional decline may be due to non-targeted exposure to insecticide applications and overconsumption of host plant. An increasing white-tailed deer population is over consuming the White Turtlehead. The butterfly utilizes this host plant as a dependable source for nourishment and reproduction.

TAGS: Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly, Nymphalidae, White Turtlehead,