Southern cloudywings can be difficult to identify because of individual variation and confusing seasonal forms.

Spring forms are usually lightly marked and resemble confused cloudywings (Thorybes confusis).

Summer forms tend to be more boldly marked, by comparison, making identification easier.

The northern cloudywing has brown palps, the white ring around the eye is not continuous, and males have a fore wing costal fold.

[2] This butterfly may be found in a variety of open habitats such as along streams, meadows, savannas, scrubby fields, and woodlands.

[2] Females lay their pale green eggs singly on the underside of host plant leaves.