Lucida Skipper
Common NameLucida Skipper
Scientific NameLucida lucia
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyPyrginae
Wingspan (mm)35
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, white
HabitatForest edges, open woodlands, clearings, and disturbed areas
Geographic RangeNorth and Central America
Host Plantsvarious herbaceous plants, grasses, legumes
Flight PeriodMultiple broods from spring to fall
Flight Styledarting
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis. Eggs are typically laid singly on host plants. The caterpillars are generally cylindrical with a prominent head, often creating shelters by folding or tying leaves together. Pupation occurs in a chrysalis, frequently within a leaf shelter or in leaf litter.
Identification TipsKey features include its robust body, the characteristic hooked antennae, and its rapid, erratic flight. The mottled brown and grey wing coloration, often with lighter patches, helps it blend into its environment, making it somewhat cryptic and challenging to spot.
Description
A small to medium-sized skipper butterfly characterized by a robust, hairy body and relatively small, triangular wings. Its wings display a mottled pattern of various shades of brown, grey, and off-white, providing effective camouflage. The antennae are distinctly clubbed with a small, hooked tip.
