Brazilian Skipper (Calpodes ethlius) is in the Skippers family (Hesperiidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,351 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Brazilian Skipper: observations by month (U.S.)
About Brazilian Skipper
Calpodes ethlius, the Brazilian skipper, larger canna leafroller or canna skipper, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the United States from southern Florida and southern Texas, south through the West Indies, Mexico, and Central America to Argentina. Strays and temporary colonies can be found north to southern Nevada, northern Texas, Illinois and Massachusetts.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Brazilian Skipper by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,925 | August | Jun–Nov |
| Florida | 813 | September | Jun–Dec |
| North Carolina | 111 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Louisiana | 110 | August | Jun–Sep |
| New Jersey | 72 | September | Aug–Oct |
| South Carolina | 58 | October | May–Oct |
| Georgia | 57 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Alabama | 45 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Virginia | 34 | August | Aug–Oct |
| Arizona | 32 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 26 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Mississippi | 18 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Tennessee | 11 | September | Sep–Oct |
| New York | 10 | August | Aug–Oct |
| District of Columbia | 6 | September | Sep–Oct |
| California | 5 | August | Aug–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Skippers)
Fiery Skipper
Silver-spotted Skipper
Huron Skipper
Zabulon Skipper
Peck's Skipper
Horace's Duskywing
Clouded Skipper
Long-tailed Skipper
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Brazilian Skipper?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from June to November.
Where is Brazilian Skipper most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Florida, North Carolina.