Habitat requirements for Taylor's checkerspot consist of open prairies and Garry oak meadows and balds, where abundant food plants are available for larvae and adult feeding. These sites include inland prairies on post-glacial, gravelly outwash, coastal bluffs and balds. Northwest grasslands were previously more widespread, larger and interconnected - conditions that likely would have supported a greater distribution and abundance of Taylor's checkerspot. However, those ecosystems have diminished over time due to development, agriculture, and fire suppression. Throughout the entire range of the Taylor’s checkerspot, prairie habitat was historically maintained through frequent burning by Indigenous peoples.

In Washington and Oregon, the adults lay eggs and larvae feed on native plants from the broomrape (Orobanchaceae) family (Castilleja hispida, C. levisecta) in addition to the non-native ribwort plantain. Several annual species are documented as larval host foods, including several species of speedwell (Veronica spp), blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia grandiflora and C. parviflora) and sea blush (Plectritus congesta). The two remaining populations in Oregon also depend upon P. lanceolata, however, golden paintbrush (C. levisecta) has been planted where Taylor’s checkerspots are found and they have been documented using the species for egg laying and as a larval food resource. Adults will feed on numerous species that bloom during their flight period, but Balsamorhiza deltoidea, Lomatium triternatum, Micranthes integrifolia and Camassia quamash are particularly important.

In Washington and Oregon, the adults lay eggs and larvae feed on native plants from the broomrape (Orobanchaceae) family (Castilleja hispida, C. levisecta) in addition to the non-native ribwort plantain.  Several annual species are documented as larval host foods including several species of speedwell (Veronica spp), blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia grandiflora and C. parviflora) and sea blush (Plectritus congesta). The two remaining populations in Oregon also depend upon P. lanceolata, however, golden paintbrush (C. levisecta) has been planted where Taylor’s checkerspots are found and they have been documented using the species for egg laying and as a larval food resource. Adults will nectar on numerous species that bloom during their flight period but Balsamorhiza deltoidea, Lomatium triternatum, Micranthes integrifolia, and Camassia quamash are particularly important.

Taylor's checkerspot is a medium-sized butterfly with a wing span of 5.7 centimeters (2.25 in)

The butterfly is conspicuously checkered with an orange to brick red, black and cream checkered pattern. The ventral surface of the wings are primarily black and orange with bands of cream cells. The dorsal portion of the wings has a proportionate mix of black, orange and cream. It is one of the smallest of the Edith’s checkerspots with short, stubby wings.

Taylor’s checkerspots produce one brood per year. Adults emerge in the spring, usually during April and May, with a peak flight period from 10 to 14 days, with an overall flight period of about 30 days. Adults mate and the female may produce a few hundred eggs and lay clusters of 20 to approximately 100 eggs on the undersides of host plants. Larvae emerge and normally form five instars before entering diapause, a state of delayed development in which resource consumption slows drastically and physical development halts, in mid-June to early July. Post-diapause, by February, larvae emerge to feed and may disperse up to 10 meters a day, as they seek food and pupation sites. During post-diapause larval dispersal, larvae are protected by concealment and the defensive bitter chemicals sequestered from their host food plants.