Mountain Checkered-Skipper
Pyrgus xanthus W.H. Edwards, 1878
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Upperside is dark grayish brown with 2 broken, irregular rows of white spots across both wings. Underside is similar to upperside, but duller. White hindwing fringe is streaked with black to the edge of the fringe. Male does not have a costal fold.
Wing Span: 3/4 - 1 inch (2 - 2.5 cm).
Life History: Males patrol but usually perch in gullies all day to watch for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on leaves or flowers of the host plants. Caterpillars make a webbed shelter in which they rest and feed.
Flight: One brood from April-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various Potentilla species in the rose family (Rosaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar and dung.
Habitat: High mountain clearings from 8000 to 10,500 feet in elevation.
Range: Southern Colorado to central Arizona and southern New Mexico.
Conservation: Monitor populations and habitats and determine conservation needs.
NCGR: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
Management Needs: Take management action if necessary.
Comments: NULL
Pollinator Week was June 20-26, 2022!
Butterflies and moths are accidental pollinators of many flowering plants. While most species do not have special structures to carry pollen, they do brush against pollen and transfer it to other flowers.
Did you know? The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) flies close to the ground and uses its short proboscis to probe flowers of wild strawberry, white sweet clover, and other low-lying plants.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 63 verified sightings
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Region: Garfield County, Utah, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Costilla County, Colorado, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Chaffee County, Colorado, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Custer County, Colorado, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: San Juan County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Teller County, Colorado, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Montrose County, Colorado, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Elbert County, Colorado, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Kane County, Utah, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Las Animas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Saguache County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Park County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Mora County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Greenlee County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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