Natural History

While there are many species of Checkerspot Butterfly these small butterflies, with a 1 - 2 inch wingspan, are all typically orange in color with an orange and black checkerspot pattern. Because many species are very similar in appearance and there can be quite a bit of variability within single species, it's often difficult to determine exactly which species the butterflies belong to.
 

Checkerspots are found throughout the US with several species located in Arizona. They prefer a variety of habitats including, woodlands, streams and meadows.