Two-banded Checkered Skipper

The Two-banded Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus ruralis) is a species of skipper (family Hesperiidae). Subspecies lagunae is known by the common name Laguna Mountains Skipper. This subspecies is on the Endangered Species list. It is found from the mountains from British Columbia and Alberta to southern California, Arizona and New Mexico. The wingspan wingspan is 25–29 mm.

The larvae of Two-banded Checkered Skipper are undescribed. The foodplants are all herbaceous Rosaceae, Potentilla drummondii and Horkelia spp. in the U.S. There is one generation, flying from early May near the coast and at low elevations to midJuly inland and at higher elevations. The Two-banded Checkered Skipper flies in open grassland, meadows, and dry forest clearings, from sea-level to high altitude, up to at least 2000 metres in the Hope Mountains, British Columbia.

The Two-banded Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus ruralis) is a fairly common skipper of the West Coast and Rocky Mountain areas, and one of eight different Checkered-Skipper species found in the United States. Its territory overlaps with the smaller Common Checkered Skippper. Both species look similar, as do all the Pyrgus species. The lack of small white dots bordering the wings serves as the basic field identificaiton clue. The caterpillars feed on plants in the rose family. Adults nectar on a variety of flowers, making it fairly easy to find and photograph them.

Posted in: Hesperiidae,T,Two-banded Checkered Skipper