Pyrgus xanthus (Mountain Checkered-Skipper) | Natural Heritage New Mexico

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Hesperiidae

Genus: Pyrgus

Species: xanthus

Mountain Checkered-Skipper - Pyrgus xanthus

356616

Species Extent (New Mexico)

Global Rank: G3

State Rank: S3

Rank Metadata
State Rank: S3	Rank Changed: 02/19/2025
Rank Reviewed: 07/31/1996
Reason: The Mountain Checkered-skipper, <em>Pyrgus xanthus,</em> is a habitat specialist of alpine forest clearings and meadows in New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. This species is very habitat restricted and has a small area of occupancy. Continuing decline is also observed in the extent and quality of habitat, as many suitable meadows within the range of this species have declined in recent decades, largely due to forest encroachment as a result of historical fire suppression practices. Fire suppression activities have also increased the likelihood of catastrophic wildfires within the range of the species. The entire range of the species could be impacted by just seven to nine such fires, therefore, seven to nine locations are considered. As a result, the species is currently assessed as S3 in New Mexico. However, a reassessment should be done if more information becomes available.

Ecological Factors
Specificity: Narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements common.	Range Extent: 20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Occurences: 81 - 300	Population Size: Unknown
Area of Occupancy: An Area of Occupancy of 41km2 was calculated using data from Toliver et al. 2001, GBIF.org 2024, and Butterflies of New Mexico.	Threat Summary: N/A

State Status:

Federal Status:

USFS Status:

BLM Status:

SWAP Status: SGCN

NMRP Strategy Status:

Number of Subpopulations: 8

Number of Mapped Locations: 15

Number of Observations: 0

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