Size
Wingspan 3.2-3.8cm (1¼-1½in)
Identification
Above, "white spot just beyond cell-end white bar present and enlarged" and the forewing dark towards the apex (not checkered all the way to the tip) distinguishes this from Common/White Checkered-Skippers where they overlap.
(1)
Below, checkered pattern on wings is blurred.
Male forewing has a mat of long blue-gray hairs; hindwing of both sexes has marginal and submarginal bands made up of equal-sized spots. Underside of hindwing is pale, often with a strong brown overlay; not much contrast between bands and ground color. (Nearctica.com)
Range
Southern, mostly coastal plain of southeastern states and west to southern Arizona, southward to Argentina.
Habitat
Open and disturbed areas such as pastures, brushy fields, wooded trails, thorn-scrub, and roadsides
(1)(2)Season
Yearlong in South Florida, Spring/Summer in the Northern part of its range
(1)Food
Larva feed on plants of the Mallow family
(1), including axocatzin (Sida rhombifolia), mallow (Malva), hollyhock (Althaea rosea), velvet-leaf (Abutilon), and malva loca (Malvastrum)
(2)
Adults nectar at Sidas and small flowered composites such as Shepherd's needles
(2)See Also
These two species are distinguished by the fringe checkered all the way to the wing apex.
(3)Print References
Photo and range information in Arnett
(4)
Great diagnostic info in Glassberg
(1)
