About Heliopetes laviana libra Evans, 1944
Heliopetes laviana, commonly known as the Laviana white-skipper or Laviana skipper, is a butterfly species that belongs to the family Hesperiidae. This butterfly is distributed from Argentina, through Central America and northern Mexico, into southern Texas. Stray individuals can also be found in southern Arizona, as well as central and northern Texas. Its natural habitat includes the edges of brushy areas, trails, roadsides, open woodland, thorn forest, and streamsides. The wingspan of Heliopetes laviana ranges from 35 to 42 mm. In southern Texas, this species produces multiple generations of adults each year. Adult Heliopetes laviana feed on flower nectar. The caterpillar larvae feed on the leaves of various mallow species, including species from the genera Sphaeralcea, Sida, and Abutilon. The larvae live inside nests made from folded leaves.
