Pyrgus ruralis

Description

Pyrgus ruralis, the two-banded checkered skipper, is a species of skipper butterfly (family Hesperiidae). Subspecies lagunae is known by the common name Laguna Mountains skipper. This subspecies is on the endangered species list. It is found in North America from the mountains of British Columbia and Alberta to southern California, Arizona and New Mexico. The wingspan is 25–29 mm. There is one generation from April to July. The larva feed on herbaceous plants in the rose family Rosaceae, including Potentilla drummondii, Horkelia fusca, Horkelia tenuiloba and Horkelia bolanderi clevelandii. Adults feed on flower nectar.