Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis, Pyrgus communis)

Fairly common and statewide in NC, although its exact status in the Western third of the state is less well known. There are 3 broods in NC with adults on the wing from early Spring to early Winter.

Formerly placed in the genus Pyrgus, which is how it appears in current field guides, recent taxonomic research supports placing it in the genus Burnsius.

Another species, White Checkered-Skipper (P. albescens), looks VERY similar and distinguishing the two species by sight alone may not be possible without examining genitalia. White Checkered-Skipper is expanding its range northward in NC, but the extent of its range expansion is not well documented.


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Alligator River NWR, Dare Co., NC 21 Oct 2018	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Alligator River NWR, Dare Co., NC 21 Oct 2018


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Alligator River NWR, Dare Co., NC 21 Oct 2018	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Alligator River NWR, Dare Co., NC 21 Oct 2018

#1884
Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis)
Duke Gardens, Durham, NC
30 Sep 2007


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Jones Co., NC 21 Oct 2007	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Jones Co., NC 21 Oct 2007


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Duke Gardens, Durham, NC 17 Oct 2007	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Duke Gardens, Durham, NC 17 Oct 2007

Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis)
Hill Forest, Durham Co., NC
18 Aug 2019

Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis)
Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC
26 Oct 2019


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC 26 Oct 2019	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Duke Gardens, Durham, NC 17 Oct 2007

Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis)
Alamance Co., NC
7 Sep 2020


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC 24 Oct 2020	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Hillsborough, Orange Co., NC 24 Aug 2017

Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis)
duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
24 Oct 2020

Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis)
Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
24 Oct 2020


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC 26 Oct 2019	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC 26 Oct 2019


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Jordan Lake, Chatham Co., NC 2 Oct 2011	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Jordan Lake, Chatham Co., NC 2 Oct 2011


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Duke Gardens, Durham Co., NC 31 Oct 2010	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC 5 Nov 2022

Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis)
Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
2 Apr 2023


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Bluestem, Orange Co., NC 14 Sep 2023

		This population of checkered-skippers is in southeastern NC, close to where White Checkered-Skippers have been reported in SC. We took a specimen from this population to determine specific identity in the lab. As yet, the exact identity of these two individuals on the left is undetermined. Our suspicions were raised by the lack of a bluish appearance to the males, although Mike Overton suspects these are P. communis based on hindwing fringe markings.
Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Male New Hanover Co., NC 27 Aug 2005	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Female New Hanover Co., NC 27 Aug 2005


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Durham Co., NC 2 May 2006	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Orange Co., NC 25 Apr 2006


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Orange Co., NC 28 Sep 2006	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Durham Co., NC 9 Sep 2005


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Chatham Co., NC 20 Oct 2005	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Chatham Co., NC 20 Oct 2005


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Female, nectaring on Bidens aristosa Chatham Co., NC 26 Sep 2004	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Worn female Orange Co., NC 19 Sep 2004


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Brunswick Co., NC 29 Oct 2006	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Chatham Co., NC 20 Oct 2005

	For host plants, Common Checkered-Skippers use many species of mallows (Malvaceae) such as this one in the genus Sida on which I watched one of the above females lay an egg! Probably Sida rhombifolia Chatham Co., NC 26 Sep 2004
	Bristly-Mallow (Modiola caroliniana) Edge of weedy lawn, Alamance Co., NC 12 Apr 2020 This Bristly-Mallow (Modiola caroliniana) is another likely local caterpillar food plant. I have found a large population of checkered-skippers near these plants.

Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis)
Brunswick Co., NC
29 Oct 2006

Female, resting in Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)

Florida Common Checkered-Skippers


#3822 Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Florida Panther NWR, Collier Co., FL 21 Sep 2016

California and Montana Common Checkered-Skippers

#9686
Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis)
Eagle Meadows west of Sonora Pass, Tuolumne Co., CA
11 July 2007

#5451
Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis)
Woodchuck Creek, Missoula Co., MT
15 Sep 2013

#5608
Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis)
Woodchuck Creek, Missoula Co., MT
19 Sep 2013


Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Angela, Rosebud Co., MT 2 June 2014	Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis) Angela, Rosebud Co., MT 2 June 2014

Colorado Common Checkered-Skippers

Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis)
Florissant, Teller Co., CO
6 July 2016

Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis)
Royal Gorge Fremont Co., CO
11 July 2016

North Carolina Butterflies | North American Butterflies | Jeff's Nature Page

Created on ... April 3, 2005 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com