Heliopetes ericetorum

Description

Heliopetes ericetorum, the northern white-skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in North America from eastern Washington south to western Colorado, southern California, Arizona and Baja California in northwestern 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.