Common checkered-skipper

Description

Common checkered-skipper is a large spread-wing skipper. It occurs throughout the contiguous United States, in western Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America. It has been called “the most common and widespread skipper in North America.” It is common in Minnesota, most common in late summer and fall.

Adults are active from early June to late September. They are found in dry open places, including prairies, old fields, pastures, parks, urban gardens, vacant lots, railroads, roadsides, and other disturbed areas. The feed on flower nectar, mostly but not exclusively on white flowers. Larvae feed on the leaves of plants in the mallow family, including common mallow, round-leaved mallow, and velvet-leaf.

The antennae are banded dark brown and white, and are distinctly hooked at the end.

The forewing is ½″ to ⅝″ (13 to 15 mm) long, and the wingspan is 1″ to 1½″ (25 to 38 mm). The wings are held spread wide when at rest. This is the feature that gives the subfamily Pyrginae its common name. The upperside of the wing is grayish-brown, blackish-brown, or reddish-brown. The thorax and the upperside of each wing near the base is covered with long hairs. The hairs are brown or black with some white on the female, bluish-gray with some white on the male. This causes the male to appear bluish in flight. The male also has a fold near the leading edge (costal margin) of the forewing that encloses specialized scent cells. There is a median band of large white spots, a submarginal band of smaller white spots, and a marginal band of very small white spots. This checkered pattern is the feature that gives the genus its common name. The marginal band is incomplete, missing the spot at the leading outer corner (apex). The central area of the forewing (cell) has a large spot near the end and a very small spot or no spot at all at the end. The fringe is checkered dark brown and white. On the male, some but not all of the checks in the fringe may be black. The underside of both wings mirrors the upperside, but is much paler and has larger white spots, making it appear mostly white with light brown stripes and spots. On the leading margin of the hind wing near the base there is a black “telephone”-shaped mark.

The caterpillar is up to 1″ long and waxy green to pinkish. It is covered with numerous minute white spots and short white hairs (setae). There is a grayish-green stripe in the middle (dorsal) and a cream-colored stripe on each side (subdorsal). The head and the collar on the first segment of the thorax (prothorax) are both dark brown. The collar has long white setae.

Size

Wingspan: 1″ to 1½″ (25 to 38 mm)

Similar Species

Northern grizzled skipper (Pyrgus centaureae freija) has smaller white spots with gaps between the spots.

The caterpillar description above could be used with little or no change for a number of skipper species. The common checkered-skipper caterpillar is distinguished by somewhat longer hairs on the body and long hairs on the prothoracic collar. It is also the only skipper caterpillar in Minnesota to be found on mallow.

Habitat

Dry open places, including prairies, old fields, pastures, parks, urban gardens, vacant lots, railroads, roadsides, and other disturbed areas.

Ecology

Season

Two overlapping generations per year: Early June to late September

Behavior

Adults are strong fliers. They hold their wings spread wide when at rest. They perch well off the ground on a tall plant.

The caterpillar creates a shelter to feed in by cutting two channels, folding over the resulting flap, and securing it with silk.

Life Cycle

The female lays single large eggs on the tops of leaves or on leaf buds. Mature caterpillars overwinter. Caterpillars may not survive Minnesota’s cold winters. Adults migrate north in the spring.

Larva Food/Hosts

Plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae), including mallows, poppy mallows, and velvet-leaf.

Adult Food

Flower nectar, mostly but not exclusively on white flowers