Heliopetes ericetorum

Heliopetes ericetorum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Heliopetes
Species: H. ericetorum
Binomial name
Heliopetes ericetorum
(Boisduval, 1852)
Synonyms
  • Syrichtus ericetorum Boisduval, 1852
  • Syrichtus alba Edwards, 1866

Heliopetes ericetorum commonly known as the northern white-skipper, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from eastern Washington south to western Colorado, southern California, Arizona, Baja California and north-western Mexico. The habitat consists of open woodland, chaparral, dry washes, desert mountains and arid lands.

The wingspan is 32-38 mm. Males have white wings with narrow black chevrons at the outer margins. Females have thicker, darker markings and black at the wing base. Adults are on wing from April to October.

Larvae feed on the leaves of mallow species, including Sphaeralcea, Althaea and Malva species. They live in shelters of rolled or tied leaves.[1]

References

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