Orcus Checkered-Skipper
Common NameOrcus Checkered-Skipper
Scientific NamePyrgus orcus
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyPyrginae
Wingspan (mm)25
Primary Colorsdark brown, white
HabitatOpen fields, pastures, roadsides, disturbed areas, forest edges
Geographic RangeMexico, Central America, South America (e.g., Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Colombia), occasionally straying into southern USA.
Host PlantsSida spp., Malvastrum spp., Abutilon spp.
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions; multiple broods from spring to fall in temperate zones.
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis. Larvae feed on mallow species (Malvaceae) before pupating. Adults emerge to feed on nectar.
Identification TipsKey features include the overall checkered pattern of white spots on a dark background. Distinguishing from other *Pyrgus* species often requires close examination of the specific arrangement and shape of the white spots, especially on the underside of the hindwing, and the characteristic skipper antennae with a hooked club.
Description
A small, robust skipper with dark brown to black wings heavily marked with numerous white, somewhat rectangular spots, creating a distinct checkered pattern across both forewings and hindwings. The body is dark and hairy.
