Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius)

Common statewide (especially in the fall), this butterfly flies from Spring into late Fall in NC. Clouded Skippers can be distinguished from female Zabulon Skippers because Clouded Skippers lack the white border of the top edge (as viewed from below or above) of the hindwing. Note also that the subapical forewing spot line in Clouded Skippers tends to be curved, not straight. As you can see below, they are fond of nectaring on purple flowers.

Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius) mated pair
Orange Co., NC
28 Sep 2005


Nectaring on Common Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) Washington Co., NC 19 June 2004	Nectaring on Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) Orange Co., NC 20 July 2005


Female Clay Co., NC 21 May 2005	With moderate scale wear Nectaring on thistle Blackwood Division of Duke Forest Orange Co., NC 25 July 2003


Female, note large white spots Orange Co., NC 3 Oct 2004	Male, note small white spots Durham Co., NC 9 Oct 2004


Richmond Co., NC 1 Oct 2006	Graham Co, NC 1 May 2004


Brunswick Co., NC 29 Oct 2006	Brunswick Co., NC 29 Oct 2006


Brunswick Co., NC 13 Aug 2006	Craven Co., NC 26 Aug 2007

Clouded Skippers are fond of crawling into large flowers like this Morning Glory in search of nectar.

Brunswick Co., NC
27 Aug 2005

North Carolina Butterflies | North American Butterflies | Jeff's Nature Page

Created on ... 25 July 2003 | Updated on ... 28 Aug 2007 | jspippen@duke.edu