Species › Insects & Arthropods › Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywing

Thorybes pylades

CommonInsect & Arthropod
Illustration of Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)

The Northern Cloudywing is a medium-sized, dark brown spread-wing skipper with small, irregular glassy forewing spots and a characteristic wide dark costal fold on the male forewing. It is common in open woodlands and clearings throughout most of North America. Males are territorial, perching on sunlit leaves and chasing other insects.

Habitat
Open woodlands, forest edges, and clearings
Diet
Larvae: bush clover and other legumes. Adults: nectar
How common
Common

Best time to see a Northern Cloudywing

The best time to see a Northern Cloudywing is April–June, when about 68% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 5,809 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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