Observation date: December 19, 2013
Submitted by: lmreid71
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Noticed that it had more white than a normal Common Checkered would have and also the black spot in the white field on the forewings was puzzling.
Status: Resident
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: December 22, 2013
Coordinator notes: I think this is a Common Checkered Skipper. There is quite a bit of variability in this species and the only others possibles in your area are Tropical or Desert Checkered Skippers. Both of the latter have a white spot right at the apex of the forewing, which is missing in the Common. The fringes on the forewings of Common and Desert are checkered all the way along the edge while the Tropical forewing fringe becomes solid towards the apex. There are some other differences. The photos in Glassberg's "Butterflies through Binoculars--the West" pp. 238-239 have some good photos for comparison. The male Common apparently has more white than the female, and so I think that is what you have in this sighting--a male Common Checkered Skipper. Something to look for in your area as a stray is one of the White Skippers (see pp. 242-243) but these have much more white than this sighting.
