Desert Checkered-Skipper
Burnsius philetas W.H. Edwards, 1881
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Upperside dark brown with whitish markings; male has a few long gray-blue hairs and a costal fold on the forewing. Hindwing has tiny marginal and submarginal spots; median band of female is reduced. Underside of hindwing is pale grayish white.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/8 inches (2.5 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: To await females, males patrol and occasionally perch throughout the day in gulches and near springs. Caterpillars live and feed in shelters made of webbed leaves.
Flight: Two to three broods; from February-December in Texas, April-October in Arizona.
Caterpillar Hosts: Mallows including malva loca (Malvastrum) and alkali mallows (Sida).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open, moist spots in deserts or thorn forests.
Range: Southern Arizona east to South Texas, south to southern Mexico. Strays north to northern Arizona and north Texas.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Taxonomy Notes: Formerly in the genus Pyrgus.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Pyrgus philetas
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 146 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 12, 2014
Submitted by: Harry Forbes
Region: Calhoun County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 12, 2014
Observation date: Oct 06, 2013
Submitted by: Sparks7
Region: Burnet County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 04, 2013
Observation date: Nov 20, 2013
Submitted by: lmreid71
Region: Guadalupe County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 20, 2013
Observation date: Oct 07, 2013
Submitted by: Redheart Canyonlands
Region: Bandera County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 07, 2013
Observation date: Sep 22, 2013
Submitted by: Redheart Canyonlands
Region: Bandera County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 23, 2013
Observation date: Jun 16, 2013
Submitted by: JimConrad
Region: Texas, Real County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 21, 2013
Observation date: Jul 31, 1989
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Oct 10, 1994
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ray Stanford)
Region: Greenlee County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 19, 2000
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ray Stanford)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Oct 14, 2012
Submitted by: JimConrad
Region: Texas, Uvalde County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Nov 18, 2012
Observation date: Jun 12, 2009
Submitted by: gunhilda
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Jul 24, 2012
Observation date: Oct 10, 1994
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ray Stanford)
Region: Greenlee County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Nov 04, 2010
Submitted by: naomiblinick
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: paulopler
Verified date: May 03, 2011
Observation date: Aug 14, 2004
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 05, 2011
Observation date: Apr 28, 1982
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Sep 08, 1977
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 31, 1968
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Keith Hughes)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Apr 30, 1982
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Sep 10, 1977
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 04, 1978
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 11, 1964
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (H. A. Freeman)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Apr 25, 1982
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Sep 01, 1967
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Keith Hughes)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 05, 1988
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
- ‹ previous
- 3 of 7
- next ›