Baltimore Checkerspots!!

One of my favourite butterflies is the Baltimore Checkerspot. We found a minimum of 7 of these beauties at the Dow Wetlands recently. They inhabit wet meadows, bogs and marshes.

Upperwing of the Baltimore Checkerspot: Adults drink nectar from the flowers of Milkweed, Viburnum and Wild rose.

A mated pair in the grasses: Males perch near the ground to find females. Eggs are laid in groups of 100-700 under host plant leaves.  https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Euphydryas-phaeton

Shortly after finding the mated pair, an interloper appeared who made 2 unsuccessful attempts at causing interference!

I think the interloper on the right wanted to start a fist fight!

Even the tips of the antennae seem to light up! Plants where eggs are laid include Turtlehead, Hairy Beardtongue, English plantain and False foxglove. The young overwinter at the larval stage. 

https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Euphydryas-phaeton