Butterflies at Home



One of the members of the brushfoot family of butterflies is the Checkerspots, so named because of the checkerboard pattern of black, orange, white and dark red squares on the top of the wings. They belong to the Genus Euphydryas.

Most are found in the Southwest and Western United States, although some inhabit the Midwest and Eastern sections of the country. They are also found in Southern British Columbia and Alberta.

Endangered, threatened or rare butterflies include the Bay Checkerspot, the Baltimore Checkerspot and Taylor's Checkerspot.

Here are some of the checkerspots seen around the USA:

Variable Checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona

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Variable Checkerspot Butterfly

Anicia Checkerspot
Euphydras anicia

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Anicia Checkerspot

Edith's Checkerspot
Euphydryas editha

Edith's Checkerspot

Northern Checkerspot
Chlosne palla

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Northern Checkerspot

Gillett's Checkerspot
Euphydryas gillettii

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Gillett's Checkerspot

Sagebrush Checkerspot
Chlosyne acastus neumoegeni

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Sagebrush Checkerspot Butterfly

Arizona Checkerspot
Texola perse

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Arizona Checkerspot

Fulvia Checkerspot
Chlosyne fulvia

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Fulvia Checkerspot

Black Checkerspot
Chlosyne cyneas

Black Checkerspot

Theona Checkerspot
Chlosyne theona

Theona Checkerspot

Arachne Checkerspot
Poladryas arachne

Arachne Checkerspot

Elada Checkerspot
Texola elada

Elada Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot
Chlosyne gorgone

Gorgone Checkerspot

Tiny Checkerspot
Dymasia dymas

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Tiny Checkerspot
Photos by and courtesy of Alan Schmierer