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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 145 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Aug 20, 2017
Submitted by: greenecycle
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Aug 21, 2017
Observation date: Nov 05, 2016
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 15, 2016
Observation date: Aug 14, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 30, 2016
Observation date: Jul 30, 2014
Submitted by: Sparks7
Region: Burnet County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 11, 2014
Observation date: Aug 18, 2014
Submitted by: lmreid71
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2014
Observation date: Aug 28, 2014
Submitted by: lmreid71
Region: Comal County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2014
Observation date: Aug 08, 2014
Submitted by: Shirley Wilkerson
Region: Comanche County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2014
Observation date: Aug 28, 2014
Submitted by: lmreid71
Region: Comal County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2014
Observation date: Aug 28, 2014
Submitted by: lmreid71
Region: Comal County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2014
Observation date: Sep 01, 2014
Submitted by: Shirley Wilkerson
Region: Comanche County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2014
Observation date: Aug 28, 2014
Submitted by: lmreid71
Region: Comal County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2014
Observation date: Aug 08, 2014
Submitted by: Shirley Wilkerson
Region: Comanche County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2014
Observation date: Jul 01, 2014
Submitted by: lmreid71
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 02, 2014
Observation date: Jun 17, 2014
Submitted by: lmreid71
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 17, 2014
Observation date: Jun 12, 2014
Submitted by: Harry Forbes
Region: Calhoun County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 12, 2014
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