Harris’s Checkerspot

21Jun09

This was the target species for a butterfly walk I took yesterday. An uncommon butterfly, you have to go to particular spots to find them:

IMG_4923-1-3harris

I saw lots of skippers (Least skipper, Hobomok skipper, Cloudywings, Silver spotted skipper) and summer nymphalids (Viceroy, American Lady). And an unusual bug I’ll post later…

In Massachusetts, Harris’s checkerspot is local to sunny wet meadow areas containing the caterpillar host plant, flat-topped white aster. If you look at range charts, you’ll see it’s widely distributed in the northeast and central areas, but you’ll only find it in the right habitat. Not a likely backyard butterfly.


Filed under: Butterflies, Macro   |  4 Comments
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4 Responses to “Harris’s Checkerspot”  

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  1. 1 edvatza on June 22, 2009 said:

    Very nice, Tom. I keep saying that I want to go out and look for butterflies but I don’t do it. Maybe I’ll go out tonight with the 300 mm and see what I can come up with. Your butterfly images are superb!

    Reply
  2. 2 Bo on June 22, 2009 said:

    I am so impressed by the clarity, love the colors and patterning. I’ve never seen this particular butterfly in its habitat.

    Reply
  3. 3 Chris on June 24, 2009 said:

    Hi Thomas,
    This is a very sharp picture and I love the bokeh and background. You captured it very weel, i’m impressed by the quality of this shot.

    Reply
  4. 4 Colors Inc on July 7, 2009 said:

    really nice macro, great in composition, colors and detail!

    Reply

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