All About the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly
Did you know that March 14th is National Learn About Butterflies Day? We’re keeping the focus local and looking at the Baltimore Checkerspot! Here are some things you might not have known about this rare, eye catching creature.
The Baltimore Checkerspot is the Maryland state insect.
Did you know that states have official insects? They do! (Well, 48 states have them- Iowa and Michigan are the only two lacking.) Not only does Maryland’s state insect have an appropriately local name, it’s also native to North America. While it is a sure symbol of Maryland, the Baltimore Checkerspot can be found as far north as Canada, as far south as North Carolina, and as far west as the Great Lakes region.
The Baltimore Checkerspot has been the state insect since 1973. The designation makes sense, looking at the butterfly- its orange, black, and white colors match the Maryland flag! The butterfly was named after the first Lord Baltimore because these colors also match those on his family crest.
These butterflies are univoltine..
Meaning they only have one brood per year. This differentiates them from other butterflies who have multiple a year; another important distinction is that due to this life cycle, they overwinter as larvae. During the winter, these larvae find shelter and warmth in dead leaves and grasses (more on that later). Once they emerge as butterflies, the Baltimore Checkerspot flies from May to June in Southern areas and July to August in the North.
As with other univoltine species, the Baltimore Checkerspot has evolved to match the life cycle of its host plant..
The only host plant for Baltimore Checkerspot caterpillars is white turtlehead.
White turtlehead (Chelone glabra)
This native plant is incredibly important for the Baltimore checkerspot, as the larvae feed almost exclusively on it. This means if you want to try and attract Baltimore checkerspots- white turtlehead is a great thing to cultivate! Our wildlife gardening team has planted turtlehead in a number of significant locations on the waterfront- including over 200 in Rash Field Park.
Fun fact- this plant contains a chemical called iridoid glycosides, which makes the butterflies taste bad to birds.
What is a host plant? Caterpillars feed on host plants, and butterflies lay their eggs there. This is different than a nectar plant, which is a food source for adult butterflies.
The Baltimore Checkerspot is considered “imperiled” in the state of Maryland.
The once-common butterfly has seen decline in the past few years, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has ranked it as rare. Some reasons for its drop in numbers include habitat degradation, wetland succession, and competition for food sources. So, it is important to take efforts to preserve habitats, protect existing butterflies, and create a beneficial environment for new butterflies to thrive. And in fact…
You can help conservation efforts!
Wondering how you can help efforts to protect our state butterfly? There are quite a few ways.
If you have a yard- Leave the Leaves! The Baltimore Checkerspot overwinters as a caterpillar, and they use piles of dead leaves and debris for warmth. Please wait for it to be over 50 degrees for a full week before cleaning out your yard. The warmth gives caterpillars and bees new life. You never know who is sheltering in the smallest nooks and crannies of your yard ready to turn into a beautiful butterfly or important pollinator!
Join wildlife gardening efforts and plant a butterfly waystation!
Butterfly waystations are clusters of native plants that are designed to attract and host both caterpillars and butterflies. These gardens include host plants (white turtlehead) and nectar plants (milkweed, dogbane, mountain mint, and wild blackberry). Maintaining these areas in appropriate locations is a great way to boost the butterfly population. To get involved with efforts here on the waterfront in Baltimore, sign up for our Wildlife Gardening newsletter.
