Common Names
Common Names in English:
Faceted Skipper
Description
Subfamily Hesperiinae
The grass skippers are members of the Family Hesperiidae. Distributed worldwide, they comprise more than 2,000 species, most of which are found in the American tropics. The small to medium-sized adults usually have abruptly angled antennae with an apiculus at the tip . Adults of many temperate species are predominantly orange, while brown is the most common color of the tropical species. Male forewings usually have a brand or stigma with specialized scales . Most species have long proboscises and are avid flower-visitors. Adults flight is rapid, and perching posture is unique: the hindwings are opened at a wider angle than the forewings. Males of most species perch while looking for mates. Caterpillars feed on monocotyledons (grasses and allied plants ) and live in silken leaf nests that sometimes extend underground. Grass skippers typically overwinter as caterpillars within their shelters .
Physical Description
Color:
Upperside is dark brown with orange patches. Underside of forewing is similar to upperside; hindwing is mottled brown and gray with a dark triangular area on the leading edge .
Habitat
Subtropical .
Biome: Terrestrial
Biology
Reproduction
Adults fly swiftly, most often in the afternoon. Adults rest with their wings closed , but bask with hindwings open wide and forewings open to about 45 degrees . Males perch to find receptive females. Caterpillars live in shelters of silked leaves.
Behavior
Flight: August in southern Arizona, much of the year in Mexico.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom:
Animalia
(
)
- animals
- Phylum:
Arthropoda
()
- arthropods
- Class:
Insecta
()
- Insects
- Order:
Lepidoptera
()
- Butterflies, Moths
- Family:
Hesperioidea
()
- Subfamily:
Hesperiinae
()
- Grass Skippers
- Genus:
Synapte
()
- Specific name:
syraces
- Godman 1901
- Scientific name: - Synapte syraces Godman 1901
- Specific name:
syraces
- Godman 1901
- Genus:
Synapte
(
- Subfamily:
Hesperiinae
(
- Family:
Hesperioidea
(
- Order:
Lepidoptera
(
- Class:
Insecta
(
- Phylum:
Arthropoda
(
Unambiguous Synonyms
- Synapte syraces (Godman 1901)
- Synapte syraces Godman 1901
Notes
Name Status: Accepted Name .
Similar Species
Members of the genus Synapte
There are approximately 24 species in this genus:
S. antistia · S. berus · S. dubitans · S. equa · S. infusco · S. insidiosa · S. intermedia · S. lunata · S. lutulenta · S. lycaenoides · S. malitiosa (Malicious Skipper) · S. malitiosa pecta (Malicious Skipper) · S. osta · S. pecta (Shady Skipper) · S. pericles · S. puma · S. restricta · S. salenus (Salenus Faceted-Skipper) · S. schausii · S. shiva · S. silene · S. silius · S. silna · S. syraces (Faceted Skipper)
More Info
- Search for Pictures: images.google.com
- Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
- Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
- Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books
Notes
Contributors
- Bisby FA, Roskov YR, Orrell TM, Nicolson D, Paglinawan LE, Bailly N, Kirk PM, Bourgoin T, van Hertum J, eds (2008). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist Taxonomic Classification. CD-ROM; Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
- LepIndex
- MBLWHOI Library: Universal Biological Index and Organizer. uBio.org accessed July 28, 2008.
Identifiers
- Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2602542
- Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Lep-188592.0
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 1594271
