Brazilian Skipper
Calpodes ethlius (Stoll, 1782)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Robust. Forewing is long and pointed, hindwing is lobed. Upperside is brown-black with large translucent spots on both forewing and hindwing. Underside is red-brown; hindwing has 3 or 4 cream spots.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 3/8 inches (4.5 - 6.1 cm).
Life History: Adults have a very fast flight and are strong migrants. Females lay eggs on the upperside of leaves high up on the host plant. Caterpillars usually spend the day in shelters of rolled leaves and emerge after dark to eat leaves.
Flight: Late summer in the north; several broods from April-December in South Texas; two broods from July-November in Arizona; throughout the year in Florida and the tropics.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various cultivated plants in the canna family (Marantaceae).
Adult Food: Lantana in Arizona. In Costa Rica, nectar from large white or pale yellow flowers of woody lianas, trees, and shrubs.
Habitat: Gardens and residential areas.
Range: South Florida and South Texas south through the West Indies, Mexico, and Central America to Argentina. Periodically strays and colonizes north to southern Nevada, north Texas, Illinois, and Massachusetts.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 330 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 14, 2017
Submitted by: fragglecat
Region: Texas, United States, Victoria County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 19, 2017
Observation date: Oct 08, 2017
Submitted by: rseidler
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 17, 2017
Observation date: Oct 25, 2016
Submitted by: sherylsr
Region: Blanco County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 16, 2017
Observation date: Oct 20, 2016
Submitted by: Alvin Williams
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 12, 2017
Observation date: Oct 01, 2017
Submitted by: dsjue
Region: Gulf County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 06, 2017
Observation date: Oct 01, 2017
Submitted by: annah
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 04, 2017
Observation date: Aug 17, 2014
Submitted by: PJPetrus
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 02, 2017
Observation date: Sep 30, 2017
Submitted by: Duane Miller
Region: Baldwin County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 30, 2017
Observation date: Sep 20, 2017
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 27, 2017
Observation date: Sep 12, 2017
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Chambers County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 26, 2017
Observation date: Sep 25, 2017
Submitted by: Nikki_Shen
Region: Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 26, 2017
Observation date: Sep 19, 2017
Submitted by: lmreid71
Region: Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 21, 2017
Observation date: Sep 04, 2017
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 13, 2017
Observation date: Aug 15, 2017
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 07, 2017
Observation date: Aug 15, 2017
Submitted by: 4wildlife
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2017
Observation date: Aug 26, 2017
Submitted by: Joanie Howe
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2017
Observation date: Aug 28, 2017
Submitted by: AJVanh.arch
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2017
Observation date: Aug 15, 2017
Submitted by: 4wildlife
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 19, 2017
Observation date: Aug 14, 2017
Submitted by: Beth Polvino
Region: Cape May County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Will Kerling
Verified date: Aug 15, 2017
Observation date: Jul 26, 2017
Submitted by: Stinchcomb Phot...
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 26, 2017
Observation date: Jul 15, 2017
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Texas, United States, Williamson County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 17, 2017
Observation date: Nov 11, 2010
Submitted by: redfishin
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 11, 2017
Observation date: Oct 22, 2016
Submitted by: Whitneygrant530
Region: Livingston Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Dec 31, 2016
Observation date: Oct 31, 2016
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Texas, United States, Williamson County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 06, 2016
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