Two-banded Checkered-Skipper

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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.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels