One of the rarest and most strikingly beautiful butterflies in North Carolina, Baltimore Checkerspots are found in a few locations in the Mountains.

Reports of this species have been declining, but in June 2009 Jeff Pippen found a population in Haywood County. Some other folks and I visited the same spot a few days later and had an amazing count of 35 Baltimores.

Haywood Co., NC 6/13/09.

Haywood Co., NC 6/13/09.

Most of the Baltimores were seen puddling on the gravel road.

Haywood Co., NC 6/13/09.

A few could be coaxed onto my sweaty fingertip, where they enjoyed lapping up salts.

Haywood Co., NC 6/13/09.

Haywood Co., NC 6/13/09.

Haywood Co., NC 6/13/09.

Haywood Co., NC 6/13/09.

A worn example.

Haywood Co., NC 6/13/09.

Puddle party of five of the 35 we saw this day.

Haywood Co., NC 6/13/09.

Close-up of some puddle-partiers.

Haywood Co., NC 6/13/09.

Face view. Note that like other members of the Nymphalidae, they only use four legs for perching. The other forelegs are smaller and always held up.

Haywood Co., NC 6/13/09.