Silvery Checkerspot, Chlosyne nycteis

We are having a fabulous spring with flowers everywhere. Despite that I’ve sensed a significant reduction in the number of butterflies. I’ve only seen three Great Spangled Fritillaries all spring and just an occasional swallowtail butterfly. Usually where would be hundreds. This must be the lingering impact of the severe drought last year. With the drought there were very few flowers so there wasn’t much for the butterflies to eat. Hopefully later this year or next year the populations will recover.

I went out this morning and found this single Silvery Checkerspot perched on a poison ivy leaf.