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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 136 verified sightings
Observation date: Feb 02, 2019
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Oct 24, 2022
Submitted by: DonnaMemon
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 05, 2022
Observation date: Feb 19, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 29, 2022
Observation date: Dec 02, 2018
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Jun 19, 2020
Submitted by: dnvarga
Region: Comal County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Sep 02, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 30, 2021
Submitted by: sherylsr
Region: Blanco County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 02, 2022
Observation date: Apr 25, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 22, 2022
Observation date: Oct 24, 1990
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 05, 2022
Observation date: Apr 21, 1989
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 05, 2022
Observation date: Oct 03, 2021
Submitted by: Chrustay
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 14, 2021
Observation date: Aug 04, 2015
Submitted by: Rob Wu
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 24, 2021
Observation date: Jul 03, 2019
Submitted by: Rob Wu
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 24, 2021
Observation date: Mar 13, 2020
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 09, 2021
Observation date: Oct 27, 2019
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 28, 2019
Observation date: May 23, 2019
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 14, 2019
Observation date: Apr 29, 2019
Submitted by: tnjbodker
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 07, 2019
Observation date: Oct 19, 2017
Submitted by: Shirley Wilkerson
Region: Brazos County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 01, 2019
Observation date: Nov 04, 2018
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Feb 07, 2019
Observation date: Sep 29, 2018
Submitted by: Shirley Wilkerson
Region: Comanche County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 24, 2019
Observation date: Jul 30, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Aug 23, 2018
Observation date: Apr 07, 2018
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Texas, Val Verde County, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 13, 2018
Observation date: Feb 22, 2017
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 31, 2018
Observation date: Nov 19, 2017
Submitted by: Shepherd1
Region: Comal County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 20, 2017
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