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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1060273.jpg?itok=T1zykRbo)
Observation date: Sep 07, 2020
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 08, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_4392_2.jpg?itok=bvBOUKx1)
Observation date: Jul 04, 2018
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 31, 2019
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_3492_0.jpg?itok=0A5roSsJ)
Observation date: Oct 27, 2016
Submitted by: David Jones
Region: Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 29, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/brazilian_skipper_092815_0.jpg?itok=QaZragHm)
Observation date: Sep 28, 2015
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 29, 2015
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Observation date: Oct 02, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ken C. Williams)
Region: Rogers County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (John M. Nelson)
Verified date: Dec 17, 2009
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Observation date: Sep 01, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Arnold, Don C.)
Region: Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Arnold, Don C.)
Verified date: Apr 03, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Payne County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004