The Southern Cloudywing is a medium-sized brown skipper. The upperside of the forewing features several whitish, glassy (hyaline) spots on the outer half, which are typically larger and more evenly aligned than those of the Northern Cloudywing. The wing fringe is light buff to gray and distinctly checkered. The underside of the hindwing is marked by two parallel dark brown bands crossing the central area, with a lightly frosted outer margin.

The Southern Cloudywing can be distinguished from the Northern Cloudywing by its white face and the white markings around the eye.

 

“Southern Cloudywing” by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, licensed under (CC BY 2.0)

 

Southern Cloudywing Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Pyrginae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 5/16 – 1 7/8 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Open, scrubby places including dry meadows, burned areas, dry prairie hills, and powerline right-of-ways

 

🪴 Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Beggar’s-ticks (Desmodium spp.)

• Bush Clover (Lespedeza spp.)

• Fuzzy Bean (Strophostyles spp.)

• Milk Vetch (Astragalus spp.)

• Thicket Bean (Phaseolus polystachios)

• Butterfly Pea (Clitoria mariana)

• Spurred Butterfly Pea (Centrosema virginianum)

• Groundnut (Apios americana)

• Hog Peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata)

• Hairy Small-leaf (Desmodium ciliare)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Southern Cloudywings feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

• Dogbane (Apocynum spp.)

• Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)

• Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.)

• Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.)

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

• Thistles (Cirsium spp.)

• Vervain (Verbena spp.)

• White Crownbeard (Verbesina virginica)