# Clouded Skipper (*Lerema accius*) The Clouded Skipper is a small butterfly with beautiful orange and brown wings. They love to flutter around flowers and are often seen in sunny places. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Clouded Skipper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lerema_accius.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mike Boone, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lerema_accius.jpg) ## Appearance The Clouded Skipper is a small, stout-bodied butterfly with dark brown wings, often appearing as a blurry streak due to its rapid flight. Males have a distinct dark, oblong scent patch on their forewings, while females exhibit a few small, translucent spots. Its muted coloring helps it blend seamlessly into grassy environments. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Hesperiidae - **Genus:** Lerema ## Interesting facts - Clouded Skippers can emerge as adults even during warm spells in winter in southern regions! - Its caterpillars hide safely inside rolled-up grass blades, like tiny leafy sleeping bags! - Male Clouded Skippers use special scent scales to attract mates, like a secret perfume! - They are so fast and erratic in flight, they are famously hard for bird predators to catch! ## Special abilities - **Rapid Evasion:** Clouded Skipper can dart and weave swiftly because of its powerful wing muscles that help it escape predators with incredible speed. - **Camouflage Cloak:** Clouded Skipper has cryptic dark brown coloration that helps it blend perfectly into its grassy habitats, making it hard to spot. - **Nectar Sip:** Clouded Skipper has a long, coiled proboscis that helps it reach deep into flowers to access sugary nectar, providing vital energy. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 29-37 mm - **Size:** 10-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-20 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Clouded Skippers sip sweet nectar from various flowers as adults, and their caterpillars munch on grasses. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat grass leaves, while adults exclusively drink flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Trifolium repens, Aster novae-angliae, Cirsium discolor, Digitaria ischaemum, Stenotaphrum secundatum - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — A common bird that preys on many insects. - **Eaten by:** Black and Yellow Garden Spider (*Argiope aurantia*) — Weaves large webs to catch flying insects. - **Pollinates:** [White Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-clover) (*Trifolium repens*) — Helps transfer pollen while collecting nectar. - **Depends on:** Smooth Crabgrass (*Digitaria ischaemum*) — Its caterpillars feed on the leaves of this grass. ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's best to watch butterflies from a distance so they don't get scared. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Clouded Skipper? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Clouded Skipper's wingspan? 29-37 mm ### How big is Clouded Skipper? 10-15 mm ### How long does Clouded Skipper live? 10-20 days ### How fast can Clouded Skipper fly? 20 km/h ### What does Clouded Skipper eat? Clouded Skippers sip sweet nectar from various flowers as adults, and their caterpillars munch on grasses. ### Where is Clouded Skipper usually found? Grasslands ### How does Clouded Skipper hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Marked Tree Lock and Siphons](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/marked-tree-lock-and-siphons) — Arkansas, US · Historic Site - [Secessionville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/secessionville-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Erskine College-Due West Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/erskine-college-due-west-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District [View all places to see Clouded Skipper](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/clouded-skipper) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Clouded Skipper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/clouded-skipper)