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Butterflies of Zihuatanejo

SUPERFAMILY PAPILIONOIDEA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)

-Butterflies (Superfamily Papilionoidea)

-Skippers (Family Hesperiidae)

-Spread-wing Skippers (Subfamily Pyrginae)

-Checkered-Skippers, White-Skippers, and Allies (Tribe Pyrgini)

-New World Checkered-Skippers (Genus Burnsius)

-Tropical Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius oileus)


Burnsius oileus, commonly known as the Tropical Checkered Skipper, is a widespread and familiar butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. The upper side of the wings shows a distinct checkerboard of pale spots on a dark background, while the underside is typically lighter gray or tan with softer, more diffuse markings. This species is found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and into South America, thriving in open habitats such as fields, roadsides, gardens, and disturbed areas. It is especially common in warm climates and can often be seen basking on the ground or visiting flowers.

Diet

  • Adults: Feed on nectar from a variety of small flowering plants.

  • Caterpillars: Feed on plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae).

  • Like other checkered-skippers, the caterpillar lives within a shelter made from the host plant's leaves, providing protection while it feeds.

Range

  • Burnsius burnsi occurs from Mexico south through Central America to Panama.

  • Around Zihua, Burnsius burnsi would likely be considered occasional to locally uncommon, particularly in open areas where Sida and other Malvaceae are growing.

Habitat

  • Found in open and semi-open tropical habitats, including fields, forest edges, clearings, roadsides and secondary vegetation.

  • Its association with Sida makes sunny disturbed areas with low-growing Malvaceae particularly promising habitat.

  • Around Zihua, look along roadsides, dry-forest margins, vacant lots, grassy clearings and disturbed woodland.

Size

  • Approximately 30–32 mm wingspan.

Tropical Checkered-Skipper

Burnsius oileus - Closed

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