Skipper without Gilligan...
...and also as a female (so maybe more like Mary Ann). Today's butterfly is a Common-Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus communis). Skippers are a group of butterflies in the family Hesperiidae. Pyrgus communis is one of the Spread-wing skippers (Subfamily: Pyrginae) which hold their wings like most other butterflies, rather than in the "jet-plane" pose as many of the common (at least in the city) skippers. This is another far-ranging butterfly species. Its range extends from southwestern Canada, though the whole US, and as far south southern Mexico. Adults fly from March through October or November. They are medium sized skippers, ranging from 25 to 38 mm (body length). The males patrol in low areas/swales most actively in the afternoon. Females lay their eggs on the tops of leaves and on leaf buds. Their caterpillars use silk to make a "nest" from a folded over leaf for feeding/hiding. They hibernate as full grown caterpillars. Pyrgus communis caterpillars feed on a number of Mallow species (MALVACEAE) including Cheeseweed (Malva parviflora, MALVACEAE).
These pictures were take at Hollenbeck Canyon in San Diego County. The picture above shows a female Pyrgus communis laying an egg on the leaf of a Cheeseweed plant. Cheeseweed is not native to California, but rather from Europe and the Mediterranean region. Cheeseweed grows wild in many disturbed areas and Pyrgus communis is more than willing to use it as a food source for its caterpillars.
References
Common Checkered-Skipper - .ButterfliesAndMoths.org Stewart, B. (1997). Common Butterflies of California. West Coast Lady Press, Patagonia, AZ.