Pyrgus philetas, the desert checkered skipper, is a species of skipper butterfly (family Hesperiidae). It is found in North America from southern Arizona east to southern Texas, south to southern Mexico. Strays are found north to northern Arizona and northern Texas. The wingspan is 25–29 mm. There are two to three generations, from February to December in Texas and from April to October in Arizona. The larva feed on several plants in the family Malvaceae, including Malvastrum and Sida. Adults feed on flower nectar.