White Checkered Skipper - Burnsius albescens

Hi Bob

I think this a Common Checkered. Note that the small white marginal spots on the FW do not go to the tip of the wing; in the Desert the marginal spots go all the way to the tip. Your specimen is clearly missing the top marginal dot on the FW.

… A.W. Thomas, 30 September, 2006 - 10:22am

Hey Tony -

Thanks for your prompt attention. I was initially bothered by that also. Two things argue for philetas: 1) the pronounced small dots on the trailing edge of wings, mostly lacking or weak in communis and perhaps most importantly 2) in Bailowitz and Brock's exhaustive treatment of "Butterflies of Southeastern Arizona" communis was only recorded from Cochise and Graham Counties, well to the east of the Baboquivaris in Pima County. They say intermediate forms have been found near Safford, still a long, long crows flight from where I was near the Mexican Border. I dunno, the one missing spot versus many strong spots and locality records - perhaps a tossup. Go with what you think is best, I'll not be offended if you decide communis. Could be a range extension for communis, or indeed an intermediate form. Wish I could have gotten a shot of underwings.

… Bob Beatson, 30 September, 2006 - 1:31pm

Locality

rules out communis but not albescens. I'm in no position to discuss AZ leps with a local, I couldn't get much further away from AZ on this continent (I'm in NB, Canada!). Be nice if Jim Brock could see this photo.

… A.W. Thomas, 30 September, 2006 - 3:52pm

Hey Tony,

just got an email from Rich Bailowitz (coauthor with Brock of SE AZ Butterflies). After looking at the pic he said he thought it was "an albescens/communis type," which he says is common in the Baboquivaris along with philetas. Glad you caught my sloppy IDing. I'll be more careful next time. He added that oileus occurs there too - a real smoorgasboard of checkerspots.

… Bob Beatson, 1 October, 2006 - 6:52pm

will move it to albescens. Wish I was there to help you find all the other species.

… A.W. Thomas, 1 October, 2006 - 10:33pm

You do

very well for someone so far away. You're right of course, it could be albescens and probably makes as much sense as anything else. I'll try to get a pic to Jim Brock and see what he thinks. Thanks for your attention to detail. Oh, stay warm up there!

… Bob Beatson, 30 September, 2006 - 4:32pm

Another vote for albescens

Bob, yours looks like one I shot just today and plan to post soon. Mine is a dead ringer for this one by Peter Bryant:

http://mamba.bio.uci.edu/~pjbryant/biodiv/lepidopt/hesper/checker.htm

… Ron Hemberger, 3 November, 2006 - 3:51pm

Confusing

This reference shows P. communis...not albescens
no little dots to forward margin of FW?

… Robert L. Pearson, 21 February, 2007 - 9:57am