THE BALTIMORE CHECKERSPOT

BUTTERFLYEUPHYDRYAS PHAETON

Suraya BuntingAriel GoldbergSydney Hergan

BACKGROUND INFORMATION The Checkerspot

became the Maryland State insect in the year 1973.

The White Turtlehead is the host plant to the Checkerspot.

When the Checkerspot caterpillar eats White Turtlehead, the plant grows back bigger and stronger.

When the deer eat the White Turtlehead, they kill it, causing the Checkerspots to die off.

Checkerspots do not like Pink Turtlehead, a non-native species.

The White Turtlehead is the only plant the larvae consume in their first instar.

LIFE CYCLE

Photos from botany.thisima.com jhonfowler.photoshelter.com bugfolks.com

Instar-An insect in any one of its periods of postembryonic growth between molts

The draining and filling of the Checkerspot’s and White Turtlehead’s natural habitat, wetlands.

The loss of the White Turtlehead causing the loss of the Checkerspot species.

Event: Problem:

THE ISSUEHow has the

stewardship of Harford Glen impacted its

environment?

RESEARCH QUESTIONTo what extent are the five deer exclosures at

Harford Glen populated by the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly?

MATERIALS Vernier- Soil moisture probe Measuring tape Yellow journal and pencil Trowel GPS Camera

PROCEDURE1. Counted number of exclosures 2. Marked waypoints3. Counted webs and caterpillars4. Counted White Turtleheads5. Measured area6. Looked to see if it had roof 7. Looked to see if it had a canopy8. Figured out material of en/exclosure9. Measured soil moisture

PHOTOS OF EXCLOSURESA B C

D E

MAP OF EXCLOSURESA

BCD

E

You Are Here

COMPARISON OF WHITE TURTLEHEAD, SOIL MOISTURE,

AND NUMBER OF WEBS

A B C D E0.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

80.00

90.00

Soil MoistureNumber of Turtle HeadsWebs

Percent

Deer En/Exclosures

COMPARING DATA

A B C D E0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

Distance from enclosure

Distance from enclo-sure

A B C D E0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Number of webs

Number of webs

Distance from Enclosure

Number of webs

Deer En/Exclosures Deer En/Exclosures

Kilo

mete

rs

Num

ber

of

webs

CONCLUSIONS• Exclosure C is the most populated by Baltimore Checkerspot Butterflies.• There are no butterflies in exclosures D and E.• Exclosure E is overgrown by Japanese Hop ,an invasive plant species. It is also the furthest from the original enclosure.• Wasps have invaded enclosure D.

INFERENCES•Wasps are killing the Checkerspot caterpillars in enclosure D to feed their larvae.•Butterflies did not find the White Turtlehead in exclosure E because it is covered by invasive species and is too far away from the original enclosure.•Exclosure E is the best place for White Turtlehead to grow because it has high soil moisture and has some sunlight.

RECOMMENDATIONS Use organic insecticidal soap on wasp’s

nests in enclosure D Plant more White Turtlehead in new and

existing exclosures Maintain and repair en/exclosures Organize new Checkerspot projects to build

new exclosures and to continue research Introduce the Checkerspot larvae to

exclosure E

ACTION PLANSpray organic insecticidal soap on wasp nest

Weed out en/exclosuresMake flyers informing people about the Checkerspot butterfly

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSMs. AiringMs. Ruthbugfolks.comjhonfowler.photoshelter.combotany.thisima.comDictionary.com