Alabama Butterfly Atlas

COMMON AND WHITE CHECKERED-SKIPPERS ARE CONSIDERED TOGETHER IN THIS ACCOUNT.  AT PRESENT, THESE TWO SPECIES CAN ONLY BE RELIABLY DISTINGUISHED BY DISSECTION.  BECAUSE THEY CANNOT BE DISTINGUISED IN THE FIELD, WE HAVE COMBINED THEIR DATA.

Butterfly: Wingspan:  ¾ to 1¼ inches (1.9 - 3.2 cm). This species, along with the closely-related Tropical Checkered Skipper, are the only two species of skippers in Alabama to have a black-and-white checkered pattern on the upper surface of the wings. The subtle differences between these two species have been discussed elsewhere (see Tropical Checkered-Skipper).  Females are darker above than males.  Males differ by having more extensive coverage of long, bluish-white hairs over the body and basal portions of both upper wing surfaces. The underside of the forewing is similar to that of the upperside except that it is paler. The underside of the hindwing is dull white and crossed by three or four wavy, tan-colored bands (sometimes olive and tan)  that are finely-edged in black or brown. The fringing around the wings is checkered with alternating blocks of brownish-black and white.

Egg: Whitish. Deposited singly on host leaves. 

Caterpillar: Pale yellowish-green. A darker green dorsal stripe runs the length of the body with two white stripes along each side. Body covered with fine white hairs and tiny tubercles. Head is black and densely covered with white hairs.  Collar is reddish and sparsely covered with longer white hairs.

Chrysalis: Light brown head grading into light green thorax area. Abdominal area is yellow-ish. Black dots and dashes form bands on dorsum. Wing cases are greenish.