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We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America online and free. If everyone who uses this resource makes a donation, we could cover our ongoing costs, develop new features, upgrade the system, and maybe even remove those pesky ads. Please make a one-time or recurring donation to show your support for this valuable source of information. Thank you!
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

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Garfield County, Utah, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Costilla County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Chaffee County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Custer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: San Juan County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Teller County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Montrose County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Elbert County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Kane County, Utah, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Las Animas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Saguache County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
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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