Thorybes diversus

Thorybes diversus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperioidea
Tribe: Hesperiidae
Genus: Thorybes
Species: T. diversus
Binomial name
Thorybes diversus
Bell, 1927

Thorybes diversus, the western cloudywing, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae (skipper) family. It is found in the western North America. The range extends along western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountain ranges, from southern Oregon to Mariposa County.[1] The habitat consists of small openings in coniferous forests.

Morphology

The adults are primarily a dull brown. The upper aspects of the wings have small pale spots, while the undersides show gray scaling at the margins. The males lack the fold on the forewings leading edge, known as a costal fold, which in other species of butterflies contains scent scales (androconia).[2] Hindwings may show darker banding. The wingspan is 32-38 mm. The wings are dull brown with small pale spots. Adults are on wing from June to July in one generation per year.

The larvae (caterpillars) feed on Trifolium wormskioldii, a species of clover native to the western half of North America.[3]

References

  1. Thorybes diversus at the Encyclopedia of Life
  2. "Butterfly Glossary". ALL ABOUT BUTTERFLIES!. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  3. "Attributes of Thorybes diversus". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Retrieved 16 October 2014.

See also

List of butterflies of Oregon

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