Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)

Statewide in distribution but fairly common only in the piedmont and sandhills, this species is uncommon to rare elsewhere. Northern Cloudywings have two broods in NC from Spring into early Fall.

Note the dark head, dark face, mostly dark wing margins, reduced forewing spots, and that the bottom spot of the apical spot line is offset toward the wingtip.


Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
28 May 2010

Northern Cloudywings can usually be distinguished from the similar Confused Cloudywing by a couple of field marks. Looking at the 3 spots in the middle of the forewing, the innermost (closest to body) on Northern Cloudywings, is fairly equal-sided or spot-like (as opposed to more elongate or bar-like in Confused Cloudywings).

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
28 May 2010

Northern Cloudywings generally have darker faces than Confused Cloudywings.


Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
15 Aug 2010

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Orange Co., NC
5 May 2017

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
1 June 2009

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Caswell Co. Game Lands, NC
3 May 2020

Dorsal shot highly cropped and lightened


Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Madison Co., NC
9 Apr 2012
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Madison Co., NC
9 Apr 2012

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Durham Co., NC
2 May 2006
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Orange Co., NC
15 May 2008

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Riverbend Park, Catawba Co., NC
4 Aug 2012

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Madison Co., NC
18 May 2023

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Madison Co., NC
18 May 2023

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Orange Co., NC
16 May 2004
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
6 June 2006

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Hill Forest, Durham Co., NC
1 May 2005
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Orange Co., NC
18 June 2003

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Alamance Co., NC
6 June 2004

The white spots are somewhat bolder than usual on this individual but note overall very dark brown, dark fringes, and offset lowermost spot (of the apical spot line).


Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Madison Co., NC
18 May 2023
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
1 June 2009

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Caswell Co., NC
10 May 2007

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Sam Houston WMA, Walker Co., TX
2 Apr 2018

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Sam Houston WMA, Walker Co., TX
1 Apr 2018
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Sam Houston WMA, Walker Co., TX
1 Apr 2018

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Sam Houston WMA, Walker Co., TX
1 Apr 2018
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Murphy's Point Provincial Park, Lanark Co., Ontario
12 July 2018

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Harshaw Rd., Patagonia, Santa Cruz Co., AZ
27 July 2017
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Carr Canyon, Cochise Co., AZ
28 July 2017


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Created on ... June 29, 2003 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com