I’ve been documenting my tiny area of the world for so long now (4-1/2 years at the “new” house [built in 1928] and 7 years before that at the “old” one [built in 1968]) that it’s always an exciting day when I can record a new species.
The other day I posted about two new bees, and just this morning I got a new butterfly!
Unfortunately for those who like things tidy and all animals correctly named, I’m not entirely sure which species this is. That’s because, at least if you believe the national butterfly guide books, it is part of a pair of species [Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis) and White Checkered-Skipper (P. albescens)] that cannot be identified in the field, and neither of them are “supposed to” be this far south in Florida. See for yourself on the range map in the newest (2012) field guide to North American Butterflies (Glassberg’s Swift Guide):
It’s always best, though, to consult local guides whenever possible. According to Minno’s 2005 Florida Butterfly Caterpillars and Their Host Plants, the range is all of Florida, even if it had “just recently” expanded its range into the state:
Of course, I’m sure neither Common nor White bother to read the guidebooks, and furthermore, should such a book-reading butterfly prodigy ever appear, I’m convinced that it wouldn’t consent to confine itself to its agreed-on range, should the guidebooks every bother to agree! What’s more, both of them are potential visitors south of the lake (that’s Lake Okeechobee in case you aren’t in the south Florida club), so either one is possible.
The one thing I’m sure of about this butterfly is that it’s NOT Tropical (P. oileus), the one checkered-skipper that “should” be in the area according to the guide books. That one looks rather different, although if you’re new to checkered-skipper ID you might have to take your time to come to that conclusion.
References
Glassberg, J. 2012. A Swift Guide to Butterflies of North America. Morristown, NJ: Sunstreak.
Glassberg, J., Minno, M., and Calhoun, J. 2000. Butterflies Through Binoculars: A Field, Finding, and Gardening Guide to Butterflies in Florida. New York: Oxford UP.
Minno, M., Butler, J., and Hall, D. 2005. Florida Butterfly Caterpillars and Their Host Plants. Gainesville: U of Florida P.