Violet-clouded Skipper
Common NameViolet-clouded Skipper
Scientific NameLerema accius
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, white
HabitatOpen woodlands, fields, roadsides, disturbed areas, gardens
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States, south to Central America
Host PlantsSt. Augustine grass, Bermuda grass, sugarcane, rice
Flight PeriodYear-round in southern Florida and Texas; April-November elsewhere
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae are green with a dark head, feeding on grasses and creating leaf shelters. Pupation occurs in a silken cocoon.
Identification TipsLook for its dull brownish-grey wings with a dark, cloudy patch and a small white spot on the forewing. The subtle violet sheen on the underside is also characteristic.
Description
A small to medium-sized skipper with dull brownish-grey wings, often exhibiting a subtle violet sheen, and a dark, cloudy patch on the forewing along with a small white spot.
