Euphydryas editha taylori, the Whulge checkerspot or Taylor's checkerspot, is a butterfly native to an area of the northwestern United States and Vancouver Island.

Quick Facts Euphydryas editha taylori, Conservation status ...

Euphydryas editha taylori
Conservation status
Endangered (ESA)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Euphydryas
Species:	E. editha
Subspecies:	E. e. taylori
Trinomial name
Euphydryas editha taylori (W.H. Edwards, 1888)

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Taylor's checkerspot is the darkest subspecies of the genus Euphydryas. It is a subspecies of Edith's checkerspot. This butterfly has a wingspan of less than 2.25 inches (57 mm). It gets its name from the checkered color pattern on its wings that consist of black, orange and white coloring.^[1] Taylor's checkerspot once ranged from the Willamette Valley in Oregon to Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

The Taylor's checkerspot butterfly is at extreme risk of going extinct.^[1] It was listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2013.^[4] In 2006, it was listed as state-endangered in Washington, where an active conservation program is underway.^[5] In Oregon Taylor's checkerspot is on the Threatened and Endangered Species list, but receives no protection under state statute. Before its dramatic decline Taylor's checkerspot was documented at more than seventy sites, but is currently found only at ten sites in Washington and two in Oregon.^[1] It is currently listed as endangered in Canada, owing to the recent discovery of populations on Denman Island.^[6]

• Early instar Euphydryas editha taylori larvae viewed under a dissection scope for observation
• Late instar Euphydryas editha taylori larva eating a Plantago lanceolata leaf, from which it sequesters defensive compounds known as iridoid glycosides.
• Lab-reared Euphydryas editha taylori feeding on honey water at the University of Washington Terrestrial Restoration Ecology lab