Lyle Tayson (American, 1924 - 2014) "Checkerspot Butterfly" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 13c Checkerspot Butterfly stamp issued June 6, 1977. The family to which the Checkerspot belongs, genus Euphydryas, is found throughout the northern hemisphere, with eight species in Europe and six species in North America. There are no known tropical species. This Checkerspot is also known as the Baltimore because it carries the orange and black colors of Cecilius Calvert, Second Baron Baltimore, who is more universally known as Lord Baltimore. He was granted the colony of Maryland by King James I of England. This colony became the State of Maryland which still carries the orange and black of Lord Baltimore on its insignia. This type butterfly is widespread but individuals remain in one particular area, usually a wet meadow where its food plant, the turtle head, grows. The young larvae gather on the same plants, weaving a silken web around the tender young leaves of the turtle head. Here they remain and eat until autumn and hibernate through the winter. In spring the larvae separate and continue feeding until they become adults during May and June. The Checkerspot or Baltimore is an eastern butterfly and is found from southern Canada south to Georgia and Missouri. Scientists believe that butterflies' bright colors may dazzle predators and make it difficult to catch the butterfly. The bird or other predator probably sees some butterflies as bright flashes of light which vanish when the butterfly lights on a branch and folds its wings. Image Size: 17 x 16 in. Overall Size: 21.5 x 20.5 in. Unframed. (B05117) See More