North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Arizona

Mountain Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus xanthus)
JPG -- species photo

Mountain Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus xanthus W. H. Edwards)

Wing span: 3/4 - 1 inch (2 - 2.5 cm).

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.

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.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: 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.

References:

Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, 
     Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.

Stanford, R. E. and P. A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of western USA butterflies including 
     adjacent parts of Canada and Mexico. Denver and Fort Collins, CO. 

Tilden, J. W. 1986. A field guide to western butterflies. Houghton-Mifflin Co., 
     Boston, Mass. 370 pages, 23 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

State and Regional References:

Bailowitz, R. A. and J. P. Brock. 1991. Butterflies of Southeastern Arizona. 
     Tucson, Ariz.: Sonoran Arthropod Studies, Inc.

Garth, J.S. 1950. Butterflies of Grand Canyon National Park. Grand Canyon 
     Natural History Association, Grand Canyon, Ariz.

Opler, Paul A. 1999. Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies, revised 
     edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.

Stanford, R.E. and P.A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western USA Butterflies. 
     Privately published, Denver, Colo.

Tilden, J.W. and A.C. Smith. 1986. A Field Guide to Western Butterflies. 
     Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.
Mountain Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus xanthus)
distribution map
map legend

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