Southern Cloudywing

Southern Cloudywing (Cecropterus bathyllus) is in the Skippers family (Hesperiidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,107 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Southern Cloudywing: observations by month (U.S.)

About Southern Cloudywing

Thorybes bathyllus, the southern cloudywing (sometimes spelled southern cloudy wing), is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. Southern cloudywings can be difficult to identify because of individual variation and confusing seasonal forms. In the south, where it has two broods per year, two seasonal forms occur. Spring forms are usually lightly marked and resemble confused cloudywings (Thorybes confusis). Summer forms tend to be more boldly marked, by comparison, making identification easier. However, summer confusedFrom Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Southern Cloudywing by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related butterflies (Skippers)

Fiery SkipperHylephila phyleus

Silver-spotted SkipperEpargyreus clarus

Huron SkipperAtalopedes huron

Zabulon SkipperLon zabulon

Peck's SkipperPolites peckius

Horace's DuskywingErynnis horatius

Clouded SkipperLerema accius

Long-tailed SkipperUrbanus proteus

Photography tips

• Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
• Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
• Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.

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