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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 69 verified sightings
Observation date: May 08, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
Observation date: May 14, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 31, 2024
Observation date: Jun 15, 2023
Submitted by: MJKrotzer
Region: Greenlee County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 03, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2023
Submitted by: mashoop58
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 23, 2023
Observation date: May 30, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 24, 2022
Observation date: May 12, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 24, 2022
Observation date: May 13, 2022
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 19, 2022
Observation date: May 01, 2022
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 08, 2022
Observation date: May 02, 2022
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 07, 2022
Observation date: May 15, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 22, 2021
Observation date: Jun 04, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 22, 2021
Observation date: Jun 05, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 22, 2021
Observation date: May 23, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 22, 2021
Observation date: Jun 09, 2021
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 15, 2021
Observation date: Jun 08, 2021
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 15, 2021
Observation date: May 06, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 08, 2021
Observation date: May 23, 2012
Submitted by: Jonathan Batkin
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 30, 2019
Observation date: May 18, 2014
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 26, 2014
Observation date: Jun 13, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 09, 1984
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: May 13, 1989
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kilian Roever)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: May 31, 1964
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kilian Roever)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Apr 23, 1967
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Richard Funk)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 08, 1973
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
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