Two-banded Checkered-Skipper

Pyrginae: Spread-wing Skippers Arctic Skipper Common Checkered-Skipper Erichson's White Skipper Funereal Duskywing Propertius Duskywing Silver-spotted Skipper Types of Butterflies

The Two-banded Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus ruralis) is a fairly common skipper of the West Coast and Rocky Mountain areas.

Its territory overlaps with the smaller Common Checkered Skippper. Both species look similar, and 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.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels