Diet

• Caterpillars feed on legumes (Fabaceae).

• The larvae construct shelters by folding or fastening leaves with silk, remaining inside the shelter while feeding and resting.

• Adults feed on flower nectar.

Range

• Spathilepia clonius ranges from Mexico through Central America and into northern and eastern South America, extending south to Argentina and Brazil.

• It occurs in Guerrero and is found in the Zihua area.

• Spathilepia is a monotypic genus containing only this species.

Habitat

• It occurs in tropical and subtropical forest, forest edges, dense undergrowth, clearings and secondary vegetation.

• It is particularly associated with areas where its leguminous host plants grow.

• Adults often perch in sunny clearings or along woodland margins, with males waiting for females from prominent perches.

• In the Zihua area, tropical dry forest, forest edges and open woodland provide suitable habitat.

Description

• A medium-sized skipper with a wingspan of approximately 42–46 mm.

• The upper surface is dark brown, with a prominent diagonal white band crossing the forewing.

• The forewing tip is distinctly truncated rather than smoothly rounded, while the outer margins of both wings are noticeably scalloped between the veins.

• The underside is brown to olive-brown, with darker bands on the hindwing.

• The combination of the truncated forewing apex, scalloped wing margins and bright diagonal forewing band makes the species relatively distinctive among Mexican skippers.

• The species is usually encountered singly, and its dark colouring provides good camouflage when it settles among vegetation.