Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis) is in the Brush-footed Butterflies family (Nymphalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 18,340 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Silvery Checkerspot: observations by month (U.S.)
About Silvery Checkerspot
Chlosyne nycteis, the silvery checkerspot, is a species of Nymphalinae butterfly that occurs in North America. It is listed as a species of special concern and believed extirpated in the US state of Connecticut.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Silvery Checkerspot by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 2,477 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Texas | 2,317 | May | Mar–Jul |
| Ohio | 1,472 | July | May–Aug |
| Kentucky | 1,368 | July | May–Aug |
| North Carolina | 1,235 | July | May–Aug |
| Tennessee | 1,232 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Maryland | 1,089 | July | May–Aug |
| Missouri | 872 | July | May–Aug |
| Illinois | 760 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Arkansas | 706 | July | May–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 607 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Georgia | 601 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 572 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Minnesota | 509 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Kansas | 288 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Louisiana | 288 | July | Mar–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 274 | June | Jun–Jun |
| West Virginia | 273 | August | May–Aug |
| Indiana | 263 | July | May–Aug |
| Alabama | 221 | August | Apr–Sep |
| New Mexico | 196 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Colorado | 160 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Michigan | 113 | June | Jun–Jun |
| South Carolina | 106 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Mississippi | 83 | August | May–Aug |
| District of Columbia | 77 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Nebraska | 47 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Maine | 39 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Iowa | 34 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Arizona | 28 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Florida | 12 | March | Mar–Mar |
| New York | 9 | June | Jun–Jun |
| South Dakota | 6 | June | Jun–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Monarch
Gulf Fritillary
Common Buckeye
Red Admiral
Pearl Crescent
Painted Lady
American Lady
Variegated Fritillary
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Silvery Checkerspot?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from May to August.
Where is Silvery Checkerspot most often seen?
The most observations come from Virginia, Texas, Ohio.