Tesselated Skipper
Common NameTesselated Skipper
Scientific NamePyrgus tessellata
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyPyrginae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsdark brown, white, bluish-grey
HabitatOpen fields, meadows, prairies, roadsides, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeNorth America, from southern Canada through the United States to central Mexico
Host Plantsmallow, sida, sphaeralcea, alcea
Flight PeriodMarch to November (multiple broods)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves. Larvae feed on the leaves, often creating shelters by folding or tying leaves together, and pupate in a loose cocoon near the ground. Multiple generations occur per year.
Identification TipsLook for the prominent tessellated (checkered) pattern of white spots on dark wings. The skipper often rests with its wings held partially open, revealing the bluish-grey hairs on its thorax.
Description
A small, dark skipper with a distinctive checkered pattern of numerous white rectangular spots on a dark brown to black background. Its body is often covered with bluish-grey hairs.
