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Insects

Calpodes ethlius

Dudley and Srygley 1994, reprinted by Dean, measured Calpodes ethlius at 16.8 mph (7.5 m/s) airspeed in free flight. The cell is an average of two insects.

A calpodes ethlius can travel 16.8 mph (7.5 m/s), a verified measurement.

Also known as Brazilian skipper, canna skipper
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Top speed

Published as 7.5 m/sPublished as 7.5 m/sPublished as 7.5 m/s

Dean, Table 1, Hesperiidae. Calpodes ethlius 16.8 mph (7.5 m/s), n=2, average, airspeed, free flying, Dudley and Srygley 1994. The figure is 16.8 mph (7.5 m/s). Wind-assisted ground speeds are not used.

VerifiedUniversity of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology (opens source in a new tab)

In context

  • 72% of Usain Bolt's 100 m world-record paceSourced · Usain Bolt, 100 m in 9.58 s. World Athletics, Berlin 2009. Averaged over the race
  • 26% of a cheetah's timed top speedSourced · Cheetah, 29 m/s. Sharp 1997, mean of three timed runs over 201.2 m
  • A football field in 12 sConstant · American football field, 100 yd (91.44 m)

Worked out from the sourced figure above, which stays the ranked number.

Quick answers

People also ask

How fast can a calpodes ethlius travel?

A calpodes ethlius can travel 16.8 mph (7.5 m/s), a verified measurement.

Is that figure claimed or verified?

Calpodes ethlius is labeled Verified. Independently measured and published, for example in a peer-reviewed study or with certified timing.

What is the source?

The figure cites University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology, “Book of Insect Records, Chapter 1, Calpodes ethlius.”

Where does Calpodes ethlius rank?

Calpodes ethlius is 5th of 10 on Fastest Insects.

Mechanism

Why it's so fast

Calpodes ethlius is ranked at 16.8 mph (7.5 m/s), an average airspeed in free flight from Dudley and Srygley 1994. Dean says n=2. At about 2.2 mph per m/s, about 17 mph (7.5 m/s).

Airspeed
16.8 mph (7.5 m/s)
Sample
n=2
Code
A / A / FF

  1. Free flight, two insects

    The code A / A / FF means an average airspeed, not a ground speed, and the insect was not on a tether. Two animals is a small sample, and the table says the 2 in the cell. The rank does not inflate it.

  2. Wind is a different column

    A black cutworm’s 60.3 mph to 70.2 mph (97–113 km/h) was ground speed while riding a front, with an airspeed of only 5.6 mph to 8.1 mph (9–13 km/h). That kind of number is not compared with this 16.8 mph (7.5 m/s) airspeed.

Provenance

Every measurement

Claimed, measured and official figures side by side, each with its source. The ranked figure is marked.

  1. 27.0km/h16.8mph7.5m/s14.6knRanked figure

    Dean, Table 1, Hesperiidae. Calpodes ethlius 16.8 mph (7.5 m/s), n=2, average, airspeed, free flying, Dudley and Srygley 1994. The figure is 16.8 mph (7.5 m/s). Wind-assisted ground speeds are not used.

    Two insects. The code A / A / FF is an average airspeed in free flight.

    Verified
    University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology (opens source in a new tab)

Reference

Specs

Species
Calpodes ethlius
Airspeed
16.8 mph (7.5 m/s)
Sample
n=2, free flight

Context

Background

Calpodes ethlius is a skipper. Dean’s table says 16.8 mph (7.5 m/s) for it, from Dudley and Srygley 1994, with n=2. The codes are average, airspeed, and free flying. Free flying here means the insect was not held on a tether and the quantity is airspeed rather than speed over the ground. The figure is 16.8 mph (7.5 m/s), qualifier verified.

Two insects is a small sample, and the table says that count in the cell. A wind-borne ground speed, such as the black cutworm’s 60.3 mph to 70.2 mph (97–113 km/h) with an airspeed of only 5.6 mph to 8.1 mph (9–13 km/h), is a different measurement and is not mixed into this row.

Head to head

Compare Calpodes ethlius

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