Tropical Checkerspot

The Tropical Checkerspot also known as the Tropical Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus oileus) is a diminutive butterfly that is quite striking in color and patten if you can manage to sneak up close enough to get a good look. Fortunately, this particular skipper was quite compliant as he sunned himself on a brick pathway moments after the rain had stopped.

Eggs are laid singly on the top sides of leaves of their host plants. As larvae, the caterpillars will host on several species of the Mallow family including hollyhocks and mallows. The larvae spin tiny amounts of silk when they feed creating a small web around the leaf upon which they are feeding. This helps to provide additional protection from predators.

This particular butterfly is a male Checkerspot. Males of this species have silvery blue hairs on their bodies and large patches of white on their wings. Females are darker in color showing more brown patches on their wings and have darker colored bodies.