Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Olive-clouded Skipper or Violet-clouded Skipper
Lerodea arabus (W.H. Edwards, 1882)


Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Male has no stigma. Upperside is brown-black; forewing has transparent spots which are larger than those of the Eufala Skipper; hindwing may have pale spots. Underside is light gray; hindwing has a dark brown patch in the center.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.4 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Males perch all day to wait for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on the host plants.
Flight: Several flights in Arizona from February-December.
Caterpillar Hosts: Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) and green spangletop (Leptochloa dubia).
Adult Food: Flower nectar including that from Bidens and Lantana.
Habitat: Subtropical thorn forest, grassy open woodland, towns and fields.
Range: Southern Arizona and western Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.