Tropical Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius oileus) is in the Skippers family (Hesperiidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 9,164 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Tropical Checkered-Skipper: observations by month (U.S.)
About Tropical Checkered-Skipper
Burnsius 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 Costa Rica. It was transferred to genus Burnsius in 2019, and was previously known as Pyrgus oileus.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Tropical Checkered-Skipper by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 4,989 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Florida | 2,493 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Louisiana | 592 | September | May–Nov |
| Georgia | 409 | October | Jul–Nov |
| Alabama | 269 | October | Aug–Oct |
| South Carolina | 222 | September | Aug–Nov |
| Mississippi | 155 | October | Jul–Nov |
| Arizona | 23 | April | Mar–May |
| North Carolina | 11 | October | Sep–Oct |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Skippers)
Fiery Skipper
Silver-spotted Skipper
Huron Skipper
Zabulon Skipper
Peck's Skipper
Horace's Duskywing
Clouded Skipper
Long-tailed Skipper
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Tropical Checkered-Skipper?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from March to November.
Where is Tropical Checkered-Skipper most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Florida, Louisiana.