Hypoleucis ophiusa

Description

Hypoleucis ophiusa, the common costus skipper, is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia. The habitat consists of forests. Adults are attracted to flowers, especially those of Costus species and gingers. Adult males are also attracted to bird droppings. The larvae feed on Costus species, including Costus afer. They live in shelters constructed of rolled leaves and eat three-quarters of the leaf of their host plant before leaving the shelter. Pupation takes place at the base of the leaf.