Diet

• Adults feed on flower nectar.

• The caterpillars feed on woody plants, with Vitex cooperi known as a larval food plant. The species appears to be associated with plants in several tropical forest habitats rather than depending on a single widespread host.

• Larvae construct shelters from leaves, where they remain concealed while developing.

Range

• Chiomara mithrax has a broad Neotropical range, extending from Mexico through Central America and the Caribbean to northern and central South America, reaching Argentina.

• It is occasionally sighted in the Zihua area, particularly in warm forest and woodland habitats.

Habitat

• The Slaty Skipper occurs in tropical forest, dry woodland, forest edges and secondary vegetation.

• It can occupy relatively open areas within forest and is also associated with vegetation along streams and forest clearings.

• Around Zihua, suitable places to look include dry-forest trails, shaded clearings, stream margins and forest edges, particularly where shrubs and small trees provide sheltered perches.

Description

• Chiomara mithrax is a medium-sized, robust skipper, with a wingspan of approximately 35–40 mm. A specimen raised in Costa Rica measured about 35 mm.

• The upper surface is predominantly very dark brown to nearly black, with subtle dark-brown and coppery bands.

• The forewing has a series of diffuse brown bands and copper-colored scaling, while the hindwing is dark brown with less sharply defined lighter bands.

• The underside is also brown, with diffuse pale-brown bands that echo the pattern of the upper surface.

• Both sexes are quite similar in appearance. The combination of its dark coloration and subdued coppery markings gives it a distinctive slaty, almost charcoal-colored appearance.