Thanks Tiffany,
The plant is Castilleja integra and the 'internet says' it is a host plant for Chlosyne fulvia, which are known to live in the southern part of my state, but that Castilleja in general (?) host Chlosyne ssp. in general (?) and that they do lay the eggs in groups or colonies and they will lay them directly on bracts...
I may have seen checkerspot-type butterflies around
I cannot find a matching egg picture
so I will just see what happens because I can totally do that
