 Pyrgus oileus (Tropical Checkered Skipper). | This Tropical Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus oileus) is quite similar to the Checkered Skippers P. communis and albescens (see above). However, it has a blurred wing pattern and a white spot just beyond the cell-end. Also, the white bar is present and enlarged. See the second link for a side by side comparison. bug guide (this photo): http://bugguide.net/node/view/686329 LepWorld: http://www.lepworld.com/butterflies/tropical_CWcheckerdcompare.html |
 Pyrgus communis or albescens (Checkered Skipper). | When I took this photo, this fickle flyer looked like a moth to me. However, it is a Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus communis or albescens). The two species are nearly indistinguishable. In the US, P. communis is a permenant resident south of the 40th parallel. Adults feed on the nectar of white-flowered composites (Asteraceae). bug guide (this photo): http://bugguide.net/node/view/566425 wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrgus_communis Wild Florida Photo: http://wildflphoto.com/species.php?k=a&id=64 |