Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

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

Verified Sightings

Displaying 25 - 48 of 54 verified sightings
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Teller County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Montrose County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Elbert County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Kane County, Utah, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Submitted by: legacy.reporter
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
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Mora County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Greenlee County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Dolores County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Douglas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Chaves County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Conejos County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Catron County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
  Details