Wingspan: 4.0-6.0 cm.
Flight time: Mid-June to early-July.
Status: Breeding resident.
Distinguishing features: This striking butterfly has black wings with rows of white rectangles, spots and crescents, bordered with red-orange half moons on the margin. Brick-red spots occur near the costal margin of the upper forewing. Females are approximately 25% larger than males.
Distribution and habitat: Scattered and very rare across the northeastern quarter of the state, where it is limited to high quality fens, open woodland seeps, and marshes.
Natural History: Larvae consume the relatively infrequent wildflower turtlehead (Chelone glabra). While of limited distribution, this plant occurs on almost all 160 remaining fens in northeastern Iowa. Yet the Baltimore Checkerspot has only a 18 or so documented populations in the state. Larvae are initially gregarious, but disperse to individual shoots by later instars. Adults disappear immediately after the sun becomes cloud-covered, but will resume flight as soon as the sun returns.
Record # | Date | Locale | State | Lat/Lon | Collected By | Count |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
335382 | 2023-06-21 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Madsen | 200 |
347273 | 2023-06-21 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tom Schilke | 2 |
347275 | 2023-06-21 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tom Schilke | 1 |
334781 | 2023-06-08 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tom Schilke | 4 |
347257 | 2023-06-08 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tom Schilke | 1 |
334783 | 2023-05-15 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tom Schilke | 2 |
310660 | 2022-06-27 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Madsen | 25 |
310630 | 2022-06-16 | Linn County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Don Ohde | 1 |
327831 | 2022-06-16 | Linn County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | IBSN | 1 |
300672 | 2021-07-03 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jay Gilliam | 14 |
289534 | 2021-07-02 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
289536 | 2021-07-02 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
289538 | 2021-07-02 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
289539 | 2021-07-02 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
289540 | 2021-07-02 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
289542 | 2021-07-02 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
289543 | 2021-07-02 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
289544 | 2021-07-02 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
289559 | 2021-07-02 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
289561 | 2021-07-02 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
289562 | 2021-07-02 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
275159 | 2020-07-22 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jay Gilliam | 1 |
269518 | 2020-07-03 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Brown | 1 |
279235 | 2020-07-03 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Brown | 1 |
279240 | 2020-07-03 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Brown | 1 |
275157 | 2020-07-02 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jay Gilliam | 1 |
273260 | 2020-06-25 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 25 |
280972 | 2020-06-25 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Chris Edwards | 52 |
266834 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266835 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266836 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266837 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266838 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266839 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266841 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266842 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266843 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266845 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266846 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266849 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266857 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266858 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266859 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266860 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266861 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
266863 | 2020-06-18 | Fayette County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jim Durbin | 1 |
248763 | 2019-07-07 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Chris Edwards | 155 |
240469 | 2019-06-25 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 90 |
224974 | 2018-06-07 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tom Schilke | 1 |
224975 | 2018-06-07 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tom Schilke | 1 |
224977 | 2018-06-07 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tom Schilke | 1 |
224978 | 2018-06-07 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tom Schilke | 1 |
224980 | 2018-06-07 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tom Schilke | 1 |
224985 | 2018-06-07 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tom Schilke | 1 |
224989 | 2018-06-07 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tom Schilke | 1 |
200553 | 2017-06-29 | Cerro Gordo County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Inger | 1 |
181752 | 2016-06-26 | Floyd County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Brown | 1 |
181793 | 2016-06-26 | Floyd County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Brown | 1 |
6828 | 2014-06-21 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Aaron Brees | 1 |
6829 | 2014-06-21 | Worth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Aaron Brees | 1 |
65448 | 2014-06-21 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Aaron Brees | 1 |
67742 | 2014-06-21 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Aaron Brees | 1 |
67743 | 2014-06-21 | Worth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Aaron Brees | 1 |
208744 | 2014-06-21 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Aaron Brees | 1 |
107085 | 2012-07-08 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
107076 | 2011-06-30 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
107086 | 2011-06-24 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
107075 | 2011-06-21 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
6830 | 2011-06-18 | Floyd County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Aaron Brees | 4 |
138231 | 2011-06-18 | Floyd County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Aaron Brees | 1 |
208745 | 2011-06-18 | Floyd County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Aaron Brees | 1 |
208746 | 2011-06-18 | Floyd County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Aaron Brees | 1 |
107072 | 2010-06-29 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 100 |
107077 | 2010-06-29 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
55224 | 2009-07-13 | Winneshiek County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
107083 | 2009-07-11 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
107084 | 2009-07-11 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
55194 | 2008-07-11 | Chickasaw County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 4 |
55191 | 2008-07-10 | Chickasaw County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 6 |
55192 | 2008-07-10 | Chickasaw County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 8 |
55193 | 2008-07-09 | Chickasaw County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 24 |
107071 | 2008-07-08 | Worth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
55188 | 2008-07-03 | Butler County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 25 |
107070 | 2008-06-24 | Worth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 7 |
107078 | 2008-06-24 | Worth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
107067 | 2007-06-30 | Floyd County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
55189 | 2006-07-04 | Cerro Gordo County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
107082 | 2006-07-04 | Worth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
107079 | 2005-07-13 | Worth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 4 |
107080 | 2005-07-13 | Worth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
55220 | 2005-07-02 | Cerro Gordo County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 60 |
107081 | 2005-07-02 | Worth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 8 |
107069 | 2005-06-26 | Floyd County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 48 |
107064 | 2005-06-24 | Muscatine County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 4 |
55217 | 2005-06-23 | Muscatine County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 15 |
55221 | 2005-06-17 | Cerro Gordo County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 10 |
55190 | 2003-07-04 | Chickasaw County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
55208 | 2003-06-26 | Louisa County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
55198 | 2002-07-12 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 4 |
55199 | 2002-07-11 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 7 |
114661 | 2002-07-07 | Linn County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Chris Edwards | 8 |
55210 | 2002-07-04 | Cerro Gordo County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 7 |
107065 | 2002-06-29 | Floyd County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
107066 | 2002-06-29 | Floyd County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 1 |
107068 | 2002-06-29 | Floyd County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 15 |
55200 | 2002-06-21 | Muscatine County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 1 |
55225 | 2001-07-15 | Worth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 10 |
55209 | 2001-07-11 | Cerro Gordo County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dan Borchardt | 1 |
55226 | 2001-07-07 | Worth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 15 |
55227 | 2001-07-07 | Worth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Leoschke | 10 |
55222 | 2001-06-29 | Winneshiek County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 3 |
55223 | 2001-06-21 | Winneshiek County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 1 |
55216 | 1995-06-25 | Linn County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 1 |
55202 | 1990-06-24 | Henry County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Michael Hafner | 1 |
55204 | 1989-06-25 | Lee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Bob Cecil | 1 |
107063 | 1989-06-19 | Muscatine County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
55201 | 1989-06-18 | Muscatine County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
107087 | 1987-07-03 | Cerro Gordo County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
55205 | 1987-06-25 | Lee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Bob Cecil | 1 |
107073 | 1987-06-22 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
55203 | 1987-06-10 | Lee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Bob Cecil | 1 |
55195 | 1987-06-06 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | J. Nehuevaj | 1 |
55218 | 1987-06-06 | Lee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Bob Cecil | 1 |
55197 | 1986-06-25 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
107074 | 1986-06-20 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
55196 | 1986-06-06 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | J. Nehuevaj | 1 |
55215 | 1985-07-06 | Linn County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 1 |
123861 | 1985-07-06 | Linn County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 2 |
144225 | 1985-07-06 | Linn County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 1 |
55212 | 1984-06-26 | Linn County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
55214 | 1981-07-04 | Linn County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 3 |
55213 | 1981-07-02 | Linn County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
3103 | 1950-07-01 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3104 | 1950-07-01 | Cerro Gordo County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3105 | 1950-07-01 | Henry County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3106 | 1950-07-01 | Lee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3107 | 1950-07-01 | Linn County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3108 | 1950-07-01 | Mitchell County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3109 | 1950-07-01 | Muscatine County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3110 | 1950-07-01 | Story County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
55206 | 1950-07-01 | Lee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Hoffmeister | 1 |
55207 | 1950-07-01 | Linn County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | George Berry | 1 |
55219 | 1950-07-01 | Story County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | R A Anderson | 1 |