Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Disclaimer: This material is being kept online for historical purposes. Content is no longer being updated and may contain broken links.


Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies
Lepidoptera
   Hesperiidae

     Heliopetes ericetorum
     Northern White Skipper


male upperside
male underside
female upperside
female underside

Size: Wingspread 1-1.5 in.
Recognition: Male upperside white with brown arrowheads along wing margins; female is dark with irregular white band down both wings; undersides of both sexes light with tan markings and white wing fringes.
Flight period: Adults are active from April to October.
Hostplants: Larvae eat a variety of mallows (Malvaceae), such as bushmallow (Malacothamnus), globemallow (Sphaeralcea), hollycock (Althaea), and mallow (Malva).
Habitat: The Northern White Skipper may be seen in drier habitats, such as chaparral and dry washes.
Distribution: Found throughout most of California, extending east and north into the Great Basin.
Other: These speedy fliers are also avid flower visitors, and males will patrol canyons for mates.

previous species                     Family list     Hesperiidae                     next species

© Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History