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 73 - 96 of 145 verified sightings
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: Gary Jue (Gary Jue)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: May 14, 2006
Submitted by: Gary Jue (Gary Jue)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba (John Saba)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Apr 19, 2000
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ray E. Stanford)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Victoria County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Ray Stanford)
Verified date: Jan 24, 2008
Observation date: Jan 01, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bordelon and Knudson)
Region: Culberson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Ray Stanford)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Derek Muschalek)
Region: DeWitt County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Ray Stanford)
Verified date: Dec 28, 2007
Observation date: Oct 15, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Terry Doyle)
Region: Texas, Medina County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Terry Doyle)
Verified date: Oct 30, 2007
Observation date: Sep 01, 2007
Submitted by: John Saba (John Saba)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba (John Saba)
Verified date: Oct 03, 2007
Observation date: Oct 18, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Nov 16, 2006
Submitted by: John Saba (John Saba)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba (John Saba)
Verified date: Nov 17, 2006
Observation date: Nov 10, 2006
Submitted by: John Saba (John Saba)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba (John Saba)
Verified date: Nov 17, 2006
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Bandera County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Comal County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Live Oak County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Durango, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Jim Wells County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: El Paso County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Archer County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Kinney County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Calhoun County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Williamson County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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