August 23, 2026
While pulling invasives at Buckhollow in Shenandoah National Park with other Virginia Master Naturalists, I was able to capture pictures of a caterpillar that I had never seen before. Once home, I started research to find out what caterpillar I had gotten pictures of. Turns out this is a caterpillar of a Baltimore checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton). Their host plant of choice is White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra), they do have a few other host plants that they use if White Turtlehead is not available, including English Plantain (Plantago lanceolate), Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus), False Foxglove (Aureolaria), and Wood Betony (Pedicularis).
This is the adult butterfly of a Baltimore Checkerspot, which has been the Maryland state insect since 1973. It has a wingspan of 2.5 inches. Their range is from Canada south to the eastern United States to the mountains of both Virginia and North Carolina, and then west to the Great Lakes Region. In the past its range had included 15 of Maryland’s counties. Now, wild colonies in Maryland are known in about 20 sites in 8 counties. These small and isolated colonies are in the western and central parts of Maryland, in the Appalachian Plateau, the Blue Ridge, the Ridge and Valley Region, and the Piedmont.
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Are you still doing the buckhollow project?
Hi Barry, unfortunately I’m not doing that now. I really enjoyed that project, particularly because of the people involved.
So very glad you read my posts.
Bren