Laviana White-Skipper
Heliopetes laviana
OrderLepidoptera
FamilyHesperiidae
HabitatBrushy areas and woodland edges in South Texas
SeasonYear-round in the Lower Rio Grande Valley; strays farther north
LocationSanta Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Alamo, Texas, Hidalgo County, Texas
SizeWingspan about 1.25-1.6 in
DietAdults nectar on flowers; caterpillars eat plants in the mallow family
ConservationNot evaluated - common in South Texas
CameraNikon Z9Lens800mmAperturef/8Shutter1/2500ISO4500
A fall laviana white-skipper at Santa Ana.
About the Laviana White-Skipper
The Laviana White-Skipper is a mostly white skipper with dark wing tips on top. Its underside is the giveaway, with a sharp-edged, dark brownish patch across the outer hindwing.
Like other skippers, it has a stout body and hooked antennae, and it flies fast and low before landing with its wings partly spread. Its caterpillars feed on mallows, which are common in the brushlands of the Rio Grande Valley.
This one was photographed on September 23, 2025, at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Hidalgo County, nectaring on a flowering shrub.
Want to see a Laviana White-Skipper in the wild?
Join one of my guided birding tours! Fine art prints of my photos are also available.
Join one of my guided birding tours! Fine art prints of my photos are also available.
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