Our first Baltimore Checkerspot caterpillar of the season hatches!

This little guy hatched from an egg clutch found by Anngely in a MD site and these hatchlings will help us determine how well they can survive on invasive English plantain. In this part of their range - moms do not lay on plantain (but they do in the northeast). We know a good deal about their relative survivorship for populations that have used this hostplant for generations, but not for MD! Stay tuned for more...