The Clouded Skipper is a common butterfly in the southern regions of the continent, though its small size and subtle coloring often cause it to go unnoticed. Overall, it is dark brown with a few translucent white spots and a distinctive cloudy wash that gives the species its name.

The underside of the forewing is pointed and marked with a row of translucent whitish spots near the subapical region. Both wings, on the underside, show a soft bluish violet to lavender sheen in the center and near the outer margins. The upperside is dark chocolate brown with several small, semitransparent whitish spots on the forewing.

 

Licensed under (CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication)

 

Clouded Skipper Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 1/4 – 1 3/4 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Forest edges and clearings near rivers and swamps

 

🪴 Host Plants

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

• Eastern Gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides)

• Florida Paspalum (Paspalum floridanum)

• Indian Wood Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Clouded Skippers feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

• False Foxglove (Agalinis spp.)

• Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)

• Morning Glory (Ipomoea spp.)

• Phlox (Phlox spp.)

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

• Shepherd’s Needle (Scandix pecten-veneris)

• Thistle (Cirsium spp.)

• Vervain (Verbena spp.)

• White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra