Tropical Checkered-Skipper

Size:
Wingspan is 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches.

Similar Species:
Common Checkered-Skipper
White Checkered-Skipper
Flight Period:
Reino: Animalia
Filo: Arthropoda
Aula: Insecta
Ordem: Lepidoptera
Família: Hesperiidae
Gênero: Pyrgus
Espécies: P. oileus

The Tropical Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus oileus) is a species of skipper (family Hesperiidae). It is found from Peninsular Florida, the Gulf Coast, and southern Texas, south through the West Indies, Mexico and Central America to Argentina.

The wingspan is 32–38 mm. There are four to five generations throughout the year in southern Texas and Florida.

The larva feed on several plants in the Malvaceae family, including Sida rhombifolia, Malva, Althaea rosea, Abutilon and Malvastrum. Adults feed on the nectar of the flowers of Sidas species and small-flowered composites such as shepherd's needles.

A very rare migrant that should be expected in late summer or early fall.

Larval Host Plants:
Plants in the mallow family Malvaceae.

Comments:
Given these small skippers land rarely and only briefly, being able to tell them apart from Common Checkered-Skipper is very difficult unless you get a really good look.