Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

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Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies
Lepidoptera
   Hesperiidae

     Pyrgus scriptura
     Small Checkered-Skipper


upperside
underside

Size: wingspread .75-1 in.
Recognition: Small; dark gray with white spots and square white patch in HW center; fringes are mostly white with some black striping.
Flight period: Adults (multiple generations) are active from March to November.
Hostplants: Larvae eat a variety of mallows (Malvaceae), such as alkali mallow (Sida) and globemallow (Sphaeralcea).
Habitat: This skipper prefers open areas, such as sunny fields.
Distribution: Occurs in scattered populations throughout the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico.

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