Harris's Checkerspot
Common NameHarris's Checkerspot
Scientific NameChlosyne harrisii
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)38
Primary Colorsblack, orange, yellow
HabitatWet meadows, bogs, fens, open swamps, moist clearings
Geographic RangeNortheastern North America, from southern Quebec and Ontario south to New Jersey, and west to Michigan and Wisconsin
Host PlantsChelone glabra
Flight PeriodLate May to early July
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in clusters on the underside of the host plant leaves. Larvae are black with orange spines, feed communally, and overwinter as partially grown caterpillars before pupating in spring.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive bright orange-yellow and black checkered pattern. The prominent orange band across both forewings and hindwings, along with a row of small white spots on the hindwing margin, are key features. Its strong association with the host plant, White Turtlehead, is also a good indicator.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with a striking checkered pattern of bright orange-yellow and black on its dorsal wings, often featuring a row of white spots along the outer margin of the hindwings.
