# Tropical Checkered-Skipper (*Burnsius oileus*) The Tropical Checkered-Skipper is a small butterfly with beautiful checkered patterns on its wings. It flits around flowers, sipping sweet nectar and spreading joy wherever it goes! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Tropical Checkered-Skipper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Tropical_Checkered-skipper_-_Pyrgus_oileus%252C_Everglades_National_Park%252C_Homestead%252C_Florida_%2833845127536%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tropical_Checkered-skipper_-_Pyrgus_oileus%252C_Everglades_National_Park%252C_Homestead%252C_Florida_%2833845127536%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Tropical Checkered-Skipper is a small butterfly with a stout, dark body. Its wings are dark brown to black, covered with many square white spots that create a distinct checkered pattern, especially on the forewings. Some individuals also have a yellowish-orange spot on the hindwing underside. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Hesperiidae - **Genus:** Pyrgus ## Interesting facts - Adult skippers use a special straw-like tongue, called a proboscis, to drink nectar! - Skippers are a mix of moths and butterflies, flying by day but with stout bodies! - Their caterpillars are often called 'leaf rollers' because they fold leaves to hide. - They can sometimes "bask" in the sun, spreading their wings to warm up quickly. ## Special abilities - **Super Speed Burst:** Tropical Checkered-Skipper can fly in a quick, erratic zigzag pattern because of its powerful wing muscles, helping them escape hungry predators! - **Nectar Navigator:** Tropical Checkered-Skipper has a long proboscis that helps them reach sweet nectar deep inside tubular flowers, fueling their energetic flight. - **Pattern Camouflage:** Tropical Checkered-Skipper has a checkered wing pattern that helps them blend into dappled sunlight and shade, making them harder for birds to spot. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-38 mm - **Size:** 10-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-20 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult skippers drink flower nectar, while their caterpillars munch on mallow plant leaves. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat plant leaves, while adults only drink flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar (adults), Sida leaves (larvae), Malvastrum leaves (larvae), Malvaviscus leaves (larvae) - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Common Wireweed (*Sida acuta*) — Its caterpillars eat the leaves of this plant. - **Depends on:** False Mallow (*Malvastrum coromandelianum*) — Young skippers feed on its leaves for growth. - **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Adult skippers are a food source for birds. - **Eaten by:** Garden Orb Weaver (*Argiope aurantia*) — Spiders often catch skippers in their webs. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Butterflies are gentle creatures, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Tropical Checkered-Skipper? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Tropical Checkered-Skipper's wingspan? 25-38 mm ### How big is Tropical Checkered-Skipper? 10-15 mm ### How long does Tropical Checkered-Skipper live? 10-20 days ### How fast can Tropical Checkered-Skipper fly? 20 km/h ### What does Tropical Checkered-Skipper eat? Adult skippers drink flower nectar, while their caterpillars munch on mallow plant leaves. ### Where is Tropical Checkered-Skipper usually found? Coastal areas ### How does Tropical Checkered-Skipper hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Secessionville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/secessionville-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Pee Dee River Rice Planters Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pee-dee-river-rice-planters-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Tropical Checkered-Skipper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tropical-checkered-skipper)