Caballo Skipper
Common NameCaballo Skipper
Scientific NameStaphylus caballa
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyEudaminae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, white
HabitatOpen woodlands, forest edges, clearings, and riparian areas
Geographic RangeSouthwestern United States (Arizona, Texas), Mexico, and Central America
Host PlantsMallows (Malvaceae)
Flight PeriodMarch to November (multivoltine in warmer regions)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis. Larvae feed on host plants, often constructing shelters by folding leaves. Pupation occurs in a chrysalis, leading to the emergence of the adult butterfly.
Identification TipsKey features include the dark brown ground color with distinct pale forewing spots and the characteristic hooked antennae of skippers. Careful examination of the forewing spot pattern is crucial to distinguish it from similar *Staphylus* species.
Description
A small, dark brown skipper with several prominent, somewhat rectangular pale (whitish to light blue-gray) spots on the forewings. The hindwings are mostly plain brown, and the body is hairy.
