Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

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Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies
Lepidoptera
   Hesperiidae

     Pyrgus albescens
     White Checkered-Skipper


upperside
underside

Size: wingspread 1-1.25 in.
Recognition: Variably gray-brown above, with irregular white band across both wings; underside irregularly brown and white banded; fringes are checkered brown and white; top of head is bald and shiny black.
Flight period: Adults may be seen all year with a peak flight time from February to October.
Hostplants: Larvae feed on a variety of mallows (Malvaceae), including Sida and globemallow (Sphaeralcea).
Habitat: Often found in disturbed areas where their mallow hostplants grow, including vacant urban lots and agricultural areas.
Distribution: Occurs across the southern U.S. into Mexico.

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