The northern grizzled skipper (''Pyrgus centaureae'') is a species of
skipper butterfly (family
Hesperiidae) with a range in
North America from the
subarctic to the north,
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
to the south, and the
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. They ...
to the east.
While generally similar to most other ''
Pyrgus
''Pyrgus'' is a genus in the skippers butterfly family, Hesperiidae, known as the grizzled skippers. The name "checkered" or "chequered skipper" may also be applied to some species, but also refers to species in the genera '' Burnsius'' and '' ...
'' species, this species has a greyer brown background colour with bold white spots on both the
forewing
Insect wings are adult outgrowths of the insect exoskeleton that enable insects to fly. They are found on the second and third thoracic segments (the mesothorax and metathorax), and the two pairs are often referred to as the forewings and hindwi ...
and
hindwing
Insect wings are adult outgrowths of the insect exoskeleton that enable insects to fly. They are found on the second and third thoracic segments (the mesothorax and metathorax), and the two pairs are often referred to as the forewings and hindwi ...
. Unlike most other ''Pyrgus'' species, the
veins
Veins are blood vessels in humans and most other animals that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated b ...
on the underside are obviously lined white. Wingspan is 25 to 33 mm.
One generation is produced per year in its southern range from March to May. Two years are required for each brood in the subarctic.
Larva
A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle.
...
l food plants include
cloudberry
''Rubus chamaemorus'' is a species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae, native to cool temperate regions, alpine and arctic tundra and boreal forest. This herbaceous perennial produces amber-colored edible fruit similar to the blackbe ...
(''Rubus chamaemorus''),
wild strawberry (''Fragaria virginiana''),
dwarf cinquefoil (''Potentilla canadensis''), and
varileaf cinquefoil (''Potentilla diversifolia'').
[
]
Subspecies
*''Pyrgus centaureae centaureae''
*''Pyrgus centaureae freija'' (Warren, 1924) (Canada)
*'' Pyrgus centaureae wyandot'' (Edwards, 1863)
*''Pyrgus centaureae loki'' Evans, 1953 (Colorado)
References
*Whalley, Paul - ''Mitchell Beazley Guide to Butterflies'' (1981, reprinted 1992)
External links
Lepiforum.de
Pyrgus
Butterflies described in 1839
Butterflies of Europe
{{Pyrginae-stub