Pyrgus communis
Encyclopedia
The Common Checkered-skipper (Pyrgus communis) is a species of butterfly in the Hesperiidae family. It is known as the frequently seen Pyrginae species in the northern United States
by collectors
and watchers
alike.
tends to have broader bands than the female
. The body tends to be blue-gray with the small amount of "fuzz" which is seen in all skippers.
and almost the entire expanse of the United States
. It has also been seen in Mexico
.
has a black head and greenish-tan body. It has a dark line along its back and tends to be paler on the sides.
In southern regions this species will fly all year with multiple broods. In the north it will have two broods and fly late into the fall
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by collectors
Insect collecting
Insect collecting is the collection of insects for hobby, scientific study or profit. Historically insect collecting has been widespread and a very popular educational hobby. Insect collecting has left traces in European cultural history, literature and songs Insect collecting is the collection of...
and watchers
Butterfly watching
Butterfly watching is a hobby concerned with the observation and study of butterflies. It also includes "catch and release" of butterflies...
alike.
Description
The common checkered-skipper has a wingspan of 19 to 32 mm. It gets its name from the checkerboard pattern on its wings; the maleMale
Male refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization...
tends to have broader bands than the female
Female
Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces non-mobile ova .- Defining characteristics :The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male...
. The body tends to be blue-gray with the small amount of "fuzz" which is seen in all skippers.
Distribution
This butterfly flies in gardens, parks, fields, roadsides, riverbanks, lowlands and foothills throughout southern CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and almost the entire expanse of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It has also been seen in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Life cycle
The caterpillarCaterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
has a black head and greenish-tan body. It has a dark line along its back and tends to be paler on the sides.
In southern regions this species will fly all year with multiple broods. In the north it will have two broods and fly late into the fall
Autumn
Autumn is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter usually in September or March when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier....
.