Overview
The Laguna Mountains skipper is one of two subspecies of the two-banded checkered skipper, a small butterfly in the skipper family. Listed as endangered in 1997, this insect faces threats from habitat modification through succession, climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
Learn more about climate change and small isolated populations susceptible to catastrophic events such as drought and fire.
Scientific Name
Identification Numbers
Characteristics
Physical Characteristics
The wings of the Laguna Mountains skipper have extensive white markings that give adults, particularly males, an overall appearance of more white than black. These insects also have banding patterns on the hind wings and a forewing pattern that resembles an “x.”
Laguna Mountains skipper have a wingspan of about 1 inch.
Habitat
These insects spend most of the time near host plants, with the primary larval host plant, Horkelia clevelandii, often found near wet features in meadows and along the forest boundary.
Life Cycle
Laguna Mountains skippers typically deposit eggs on the underside of mature or moderately mature leaves of the host plant. Larvae then occupy silken shelters constructed with host plant leaves. Typically, there is a spring flight from late April to June and a summer flight from July through August.
Geography
Laguna Mountains skippers were historically found in meadow habitats within the Peninsular Range on Palomar Mountain, and in the Laguna Mountains in San Diego County, California, but is currently restricted to Palomar Mountain. Working in partnership with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the U.S. Forest Service, we reintroduced Laguna Mountains skippers in an area of the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area.
Timeline
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