Hesperiidae : Pyrginae
Burnsius crisia (Herrich-Schäffer, 1865)
Antillean Checkered Skipper
Burnsius crisia (Herrich-Schäffer, 1865)
Antillean Checkered Skipper
Previously known as: Pyrgus crisia but recent research by Nick Griffin has now placed it in the genus Burnsius.
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 22-27mm. Rather smaller and much less common than Tropical Checkered Skipper Burnsius oileus and with a black and white checkered pattern on the upperwings that lacks the covering of white or brown hairs found in that species. They also have a rather plainer appearance caused by smaller and more evenly sized white dots. Confusion between females of the two species is a commonly made mistake but note that B. crisia has a single row of white dots near the trailing edge of the hindwing whereas B. oileus has two rows. The underwings are also more black and white lacking the ochreous background of B. oileus. The hindwings especially have obviously checkered fringes. Because of their small size and rapid flight they can be much harder to follow in flight.
Range: Regionally endemic and found only on Cuba and Hispaniola.
Status: Rare, commoner in the far west of the island but also found in the Sierra Maestra in the SE.
Nectar Plants: Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, Blechum brownei, Bidens pilosa and Tournefortia hirsutissima, Wedelia rugosa.
Larval Foodplants: Unknown.
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 22-27mm. Rather smaller and much less common than Tropical Checkered Skipper Burnsius oileus and with a black and white checkered pattern on the upperwings that lacks the covering of white or brown hairs found in that species. They also have a rather plainer appearance caused by smaller and more evenly sized white dots. Confusion between females of the two species is a commonly made mistake but note that B. crisia has a single row of white dots near the trailing edge of the hindwing whereas B. oileus has two rows. The underwings are also more black and white lacking the ochreous background of B. oileus. The hindwings especially have obviously checkered fringes. Because of their small size and rapid flight they can be much harder to follow in flight.
Range: Regionally endemic and found only on Cuba and Hispaniola.
Status: Rare, commoner in the far west of the island but also found in the Sierra Maestra in the SE.
Nectar Plants: Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, Blechum brownei, Bidens pilosa and Tournefortia hirsutissima, Wedelia rugosa.
Larval Foodplants: Unknown.
