Bug FAQWhite-patterned Skipper
Chiomara asychis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Hesperiidae
Also called: White-patched Skipper
The white-patched skipper is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae with a wingspan of 29 to 38 mm. It occurs from Argentina through tropical America, the West Indies and reaches southern Texas, with occasional strays as far north as Arizona, Nevada and Kansas. In Texas the caterpillars feed on Malpighia glabra, in Mexico on Gaudichaudia pentandra, and adults drink flower nectar; three to four generations fly year-round in southern Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The white-patched skipper belongs to the butterfly family Hesperiidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan measures about 29 to 38 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives from Argentina through tropical America, the West Indies and reaches southern Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
In Texas the larvae feed on Malpighia glabra, while in Mexico they eat Gaudichaudia pentandra. Adult butterflies sip nectar from flowers.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
In southern Texas there are three to four generations each year, and adults can be seen flying all year long.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
In the United States it is found in southern Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 3 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Arizona, Pennsylvania.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
Questions people ask
What do the caterpillars eat?
In Texas they feed on Malpighia glabra, and in Mexico they feed on Gaudichaudia pentandra.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Hesperiidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiothion_asychis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.