Pyrgus oileus

Description

Pyrgus oileus, the tropical checkered skipper, is a species of skipper (family Hesperiidae). It is found from Peninsular Florida, the Gulf Coast, and southern Texas, south through the West Indies, Mexico and Central America to Argentina. The wingspan is 32–38 mm. There are four to five generations throughout the year in southern Texas and Florida. The larva feed on several plants in the Malvaceae family, including Sida rhombifolia, Malva, Althaea rosea, Abutilon and Malvastrum. Adults feed on the nectar of the flowers of Sidas species and small-flowered composites such as shepherd's needles.