Silvery checkerspot caterpillars are typically black with yellow lines and spots
This family of caterpillars (Nymphalidae) are known for their branched spines. If you look at the silvery checkerspot caterpillar from above, these spiked spines are easier to see. Silvery checkerspot caterpillars are typically black with yellow lines and spots running along their body. Most of the ones I observed were a couple inches long.
Upon completing metamorphosis, this caterpillar will transform into a silvery checkerspot butterfly. The butterfly will have similar coloration to the caterpillar. The wings will have dark borders with orangish-yellow markings. The silvery checkerspot caterpillar and butterfly can be found as far north as southern Canada. They can be found as far south as Florida, Texas, and in this case southern New Mexico.
Although they are said to inhabit moist areas near water, as well as forests, the silvery checkerspot caterpillars I found were in the middle of a desert in White Sands National Park. There was no water to be seen. There were very few plants and trees. However, once you got close to some of the lone trees scattered across the sands, you would notice swarms of these caterpillars eating the leaves.
Although they are said to inhabit moist areas near water, as well as forests, the silvery checkerspot caterpillars I found were in the middle of a desert in White Sands National Park. There was no water to be seen. There were very few plants and trees. However, once you got close to some of the lone trees scattered across the sands, you would notice swarms of these caterpillars eating the leaves.
[T]he silvery checkerspot caterpillars I found were in the middle of a desert
The female silvery checkerspot butterflies will lay up to ~100...eggs
The latitude and weather determine how many broods will hatch each year. In the northern areas of its habitat, one brood hatches in June and July. For the lower latitudes, two broods will hatch between May and September. In the southernmost parts of its habitat, three broods may hatch.
The female silvery checkerspot butterflies will lay up to ~100 small oval-shaped eggs on their host plant. I noticed some of these recently hatched eggs when I was exploring White Sands National Park in late April. Upon hatching, they will stay together to eat the leaves of the host plant. Although they can cause extensive damage to the host plant, they are considered a sign of a healthy ecosystem.
Did you know?
- The adult silvery checkerspot butterflies will only live for roughly two weeks.
- The silvery checkerspot butterflies will bask in the sun to absorb heat. They need their thorax to reach at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit for effective flight.
- When a silvery checkerspot butterfly lands on a plant, it can taste the plant with its leg hair! This helps the female butterfly determine which plants are appropriate for laying her eggs on.
- White Sands National Park is the world’s largest gypsum dunefield. There is ~4.5 billion tons of gypsum in White Sands National Park. This is enough gypsum to fill ~45 million box cars, which is a train long enough to circle the earth at the equator over 25 times!
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