Overview
A skipper is a of the family Hesperiidae, and superfamily Hesperioidea (there is only family in this superfamily). They are named after their quick, darting flight habits. There are more than 3500 recognized species of skippers and they occur worldwide, but with the greatest diversity occurring in the tropical regions of Central and South America.
All butterflies other than skippers are classified into either the superfamily Papilionoidea or the neotropical superfamily Hedyloidea. Collectively, these three groups of butterflies share many characteristics, especially in the egg, larval and pupal stage (Ackery et al. 1999). However, skippers have the antennae clubs hooked backward like a crochet hook, while regular butterflies have club-like tips to their antennae and hedylids have feathered or pectinate antennae, giving them an even more moth-like appearance than skippers. Skippers also have generally stockier bodies than the other two groups, with stronger wing muscles. Hesperioidea is very likely the sister group of Papilionoidea, and together with Hedyloidea constitute a natural group or clade.
There are about 3500 species of skippers. They are usually classified in the following subfamilies:
- Awls, Awlets and Policemen (Subfamily Coeliadinae, about 75 species)
- Grass Skippers (Subfamily Hesperiinae, over 2000 species)
- Skipperlings (Subfamily Heteropterinae, about 150 species)
- Giant Skippers (Subfamily Megathyminae, about 18 species)1][2]
- Spread-winged Skippers (Subfamily Pyrginae, about 1000 species)
- Firetips (Subfamily Pyrrhopyginae, about 150 species)
- Australian Skippers (Subfamily Trapezitinae, about 60 species)
Note: Some authorities treat the Giant Skippers as a separate family, the Megathymidae, but more modern classifications place them within the subfamily Hesperiinae in the family Hesperiidae.
Many species of skippers look frustratingly alike. For example, some species in the genera Erynnis, Hesperia, and Amblyscirtes cannot currently be distinguished in the field by experts, the only reliable method of telling them apart involving dissection and examination of the genitalia.
Photos
Taxonomy
The Family Hesperiidae is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Subfamily (8): Coeliadinae · Hesperiinae · Heteropterinae · Megathyminae · Pyrginae · Pyrrhopyginae · Rhinanthoideae · Trapezitinae
- Tribe (1): Veroniceae
- Genus (287): Abantis · Ablepsis · Abraximorpha · Acada · Acerbas · Achalarus · Achlyodes · Achylodes · Acleros · Acromecis · Adlerodea · Adopaeoides · Aecas · Aegiale · Aeromachus · Aethilla · Agathymus · Aguna · Aides · Alera · Allora · Amblyscirtes · Ampittia · Anastrus · Anatrytone · Ancistroides · Ancyloxypha · Andinus · Andronymus · Anisochoria · Anisynta · Ankola · Anthoptus · Antigonus · Apaustus · Appia · Apyrrothrix · Ardaris · Argon · Argopteron · Arina · Arita · Arnetta · Aroma · Arotis · Arrhenes · Arteurotia · Artines · Artitropa · Asbolis · Aspitha · Astictopterus · Astraptes · Atalopedes · Atarnes · Atrytone · Atrytonopsis · Augiades · Autochton · Azonax · Badamia · Barbo · Bibasis · Bolla · Borbo · Bungalotis · Burara · Cabares · Cabirus · Calchas · Calephelus · Callimormus · Calpodes · Caltoris · Carcharodus · Carrhenes · Carterocephalus · Carystoides · Carystus · Celaenorrhinus · Celotes · Cephrenes · Ceratrichia · Charidia · Chioides · Chiomara · Choaspes · Chondrolepis · Chryoplectrum · Clito · Cobalopsis · Cobalus · Codatractus · Coeliades · Cogia · Coladenia · Conga · Copaeodes · Corticea · Cycloglypha · Cymaenes · Cynea · Daimio · Decinea · Dion · Drephalys · Dyscophellus · Eagris · Eantis · Ebrietas · Ebusus · Elissa · Enosis · Entheus · Epargyreus · Ephyriades · Erynnis · Euphyes · Euschemon · Eutocus · Flaccilla · Georgina · Gesta · Gorgythion · Grais · Haemactis · Halpe · Hasora · Helias · Heliopetes · Heliopyrgus · Hesperia · Hesperilla · Hesperopsis · Hyalothyrus · Hyarotis · Hylephila · Isoteinon · Isoteninon · Joanna · Juba · Lerema · Lerodea · Leucochitonea · Lindra · Lobocla · Marela · Megathymus · Mellana · Mesodina · Mictris · Milanion · Mimoniades · Mnaseas · Mnasicles · Mnasilus · Moeris · Monca · Morys · Motasingha · Muschampia · Mylon · Myrinia · Narcosius · Nascus · Nastra · Neohesperilla · Neoxeniades · Netrocoryne · Niconiades · Nisoniades · Noctuana · Nyctelius · Oarisma · Ochlodes · Ocybadistes · Odina · Oileus · Oligoria · Onenses · Onophas · Oreisplanus · Origenes · Orthos · Osmodes · Otho · Ouleus · Paches · Panoquina · Papias · Paracarystus · Paramimus · Paratrytone · Parelbella · Parnara · Parphorus · Pasma · Peba · Pellicia · Pelopidas · Penicula · Perichares · Perrotia · Phanes · Phanus · Phlebodes · Phocides · Pholisora · Piruna · Poanes · Polites · Polyctor · Polygonus · Polythrix · Polytremis · Pompeius · Porphyrogenes · Potanthus · Prada · Problema · Proeidosa · Propapias · Propertius · Proteides · Pseudocopaeodes · Pyrgus · Pyrrhopyge · Qasimellana · Quadrus · Quasimellana · Rachelia · Remella · Rhesus · Rhinthon · Saliana · Sarangesa · Sarmientoia · Saturnus · Sostrata · Spathilepia · Spialia · Stallingsia · Staphilus · Staphylus · Stimula · Stinga · Suniana · Synapte · Syrichtus · Systasea · Tagiades · Taractrocera · Tarsoctenus · Telemiades · Telicota · Thargella · Thespieus · Thessia · Thoressa · Thorybes · Thracides · Thymelicus · Timochares · Toxeus · Toxidia · Tramba · Trapezites · Trina · Typhedanus · Udranomia · Urbanus · Vacerra · Vehilius · Vettius · Vidius · Vinius · Virga · Wallengrenia · Windia · Xanthodisca · Xanthoneura · Xanthus · Xeniades · Xenophanes · Xispia · Zera · Zestusa
- Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 3,500 species and subspecies in the Family Hesperiidae.
Genera
Abantis
Ablepsis
Abraximorpha
Acada
Acerbas
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Achalarus
Achlyodes
Achylodes
Acleros
Acromecis
Adlerodea
Adopaeoides
Aecas
Aegiale
In , Aegiale may be: [more]
Aeromachus
Aethilla
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Agathymus
Aguna
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[1] [more]
Aides
Aides has various meanings: [more]
Alera
Allora
Amblyscirtes
Ampittia
Ampittia is the of bush hoppers in the skipper butterfly family, Hesperiidae. It is presently the only member of the tribe Ampittiini, but many skipper butterflies are yet to be assigned to tribes, so this might change eventually. [more]
Anastrus
Anatrytone
Ancistroides
Ancyloxypha
Andinus
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Andronymus
Anisochoria
Anisynta
Ankola
Anthoptus
Antigonus
Apaustus
Appia
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[2] [more]
Apyrrothrix
Ardaris
Argon
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Argopteron
Arina
Arita
Arita is a . It can also refer to: [more]
Arnetta
Aroma
An odor or odour (see ) is a volatilized chemical compound, generally at a very low concentration, that humans or other animals perceive by the sense of olfaction. Odors are also called smells, which can refer to both pleasant and unpleasant odors. The terms fragrance, scent, and aroma are used primarily by the food and cosmetic industry to describe a pleasant odor, and are sometimes used to refer to perfumes. In contrast, malodorous, raunch, stench, reek, and stink are used specifically to describe unpleasant odors. [more]
Arotis
Arrhenes
Arteurotia
Artines
Artitropa
Asbolis
Aspitha
Astictopterus
Astraptes
Astraptes is the of flasher butterflies, which belong to the spread-wing skipper subfamily. [more]
Atalopedes
Atarnes
Atrytone
Atrytonopsis
Augiades
Autochton
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[3] [more]
Azonax
Badamia
Badamia is a genus of . [more]
Barbo
Bibasis
The awlets, Bibasis, are a of skipper butterflies. [more]
Bolla
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Borbo
Bungalotis
Burara
Cabares
Cabirus
Calchas
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[4] [more]
Calephelus
Callimormus
Calpodes
Caltoris
Caltoris is a genus of . Like several related genera, they are called "swifts". [more]
Carcharodus
Carrhenes
Carterocephalus
Carterocephalus is a in the skipper butterfly family, Hesperiidae. [more]
Carystoides
Carystus
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Celaenorrhinus
Celaenorrhinus is a of skipper butterflies which are commonly termed as flats for their habit of holding their wings flat when resting. [more]
Celotes
Cephrenes
Ceratrichia
Charidia
Savia or SAVIA can refer to: [more]
Chioides
Chiomara
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[5] [more]
Choaspes
Choaspes may be referring to: [more]
Chondrolepis
Chryoplectrum
Clito
Cobalopsis
Cobalus
Codatractus
Coeliades
Cogia
Coladenia
Conga
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Copaeodes
Corticea
Cycloglypha
Cymaenes
Cynea
Daimio
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Decinea
Dion
Dion may mean: [more]
Drephalys
Dyscophellus
Eagris
Eantis
Ebrietas
Ebusus
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Elissa
Enosis
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Entheus
Epargyreus
Ephyriades
Erynnis
Erynnis is a in the Skippers butterfly family, Hesperiidae, known as the Duskywings. [more]
Euphyes
Euschemon
Eutocus
Flaccilla
Georgina
Georgina (2006 Population 42,346) is a town in south-central Ontario, and the northernmost municipality in the Regional Municipality of York. It forms part of the northern boundary of the Greater Toronto Area and is situated on the southern shores of Lake Simcoe. It is not so much one cohesive town as a large area containing three primary subsections: the community of Keswick, the communities of Sutton and Jackson's Point, and the smallest main subsection of Pefferlaw and Port Bolster. [more]
Gesta
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Gorgythion
Grais
Haemactis
Halpe
Hasora
Hasora, the awls, are a of skipper butterflies. [more]
Helias
Heliopetes
Heliopyrgus
Hesperia
Hesperilla
Hesperopsis
Hyalothyrus
Hyarotis
Hylephila
Isoteinon
Isoteninon
Joanna
Joanna is a feminine given name deriving from Greek Ioanna. Variants in English include Joan, Joann, Joanne, and Johanna. Other forms of the name in English are Jan, Jane, Janet, Janice, Jean, and Jeanne. [more]
Juba
Lerema
Lerodea
Leucochitonea
Lindra
Lobocla
Marela
Megathymus
Mellana
Mesodina
Mictris
Milanion
Mimoniades
Mnaseas
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Mnasicles
Mnasilus
Moeris
Monca
Morys
Motasingha
Muschampia
Mylon
Myrinia
Narcosius
Nascus
Nastra
Neohesperilla
Neoxeniades
Netrocoryne
Niconiades
Nisoniades
Noctuana
Nyctelius
Oarisma
Ochlodes
Ochlodes is a in the skipper butterfly family, Hesperiidae. [more]
Ocybadistes
Odina
Oileus
Oligoria
Onenses
Onophas
Oreisplanus
Origenes
Orthos
Orthos can refer to: [more]
Osmodes
Otho
Ouleus
Paches
Panoquina
The Wandering Skipper (Panoquina errans) is a species of in the Hesperiidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Panoquina. It is found in Mexico and the United States. [more]
Papias
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Paracarystus
Paramimus
Paratrytone
Parelbella
Parnara
Parphorus
Pasma
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Peba
Pellicia
Pelopidas
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Penicula
Perichares
Perrotia
Phanes
Phanus
Phlebodes
Phocides
Pholisora
Piruna
Poanes
Poanes is a genus of (family Hesperiidae) distributed throughout North and Central America. The larvae feed on grasses and sedges. [more]
Polites
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[6] [more]
Polyctor
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Polygonus
Polythrix
Polytremis
Pompeius
Pompeius (fem. Pompeia), known in as Pompey, is the nomen of the gens Pompeia, an important family during the late republic period of ancient Rome from the Italian region of Picenum, which lies between the Apennines and the Adriatic. The name may refer to any person bearing it, with a list of the most famous below: [more]
Porphyrogenes
Potanthus
Potanthus is a genus of . They are commonly known as Darts. [more]
Prada
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Problema
Proeidosa
Propapias
Propertius
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[7] [more]
Proteides
Pseudocopaeodes
Pyrgus
Pyrgus is a in the Skippers butterfly family, Hesperiidae, known as the grizzled skippers. The name 'Grizzled Skipper' best describes this genus, but in some countries the name 'Checkered Skipper' or 'Chequered Skipper' is applied to some species. Strictly speaking, 'chequered skippers' applies to butterflies of the genus Carterocephalus. [more]
Pyrrhopyge
Qasimellana
Quadrus
Quasimellana
Rachelia
Remella
Rhesus
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[8] [more]
Rhinthon
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Saliana
Sarangesa
Sarmientoia
Saturnus
Sostrata
Spathilepia
Spialia
Stallingsia
Staphilus
Staphylus
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[9] [more]
Stimula
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[10] [more]
Stinga
Suniana
Synapte
Syrichtus
Systasea
Tagiades
Tagiades is a genus of butterflies. [more]
Taractrocera
Tarsoctenus
Telemiades
Telicota
Thargella
Thespieus
Thessia
Thoressa
Thoressa is a of skipper butterflies. They are (like some other skippers) commonly known as "aces" or "ace butterflies". [more]
Thorybes
Thracides
Thymelicus
Thymelicus is a in the skipper butterfly family, Hesperiidae. It is presently the only member of the tribe Thymelini, but many skipper butterflies are yet to be assigned to tribes, so this might change eventually. [more]
Timochares
Toxeus
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[11] [more]
Toxidia
Tramba
Trapezites
Trina
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[12] [more]
Typhedanus
Udranomia
Urbanus
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[13] [more]
Vacerra
Vehilius
Vettius
Vidius
Vinius
Virga
A Genus in the Kingdom Plantae. [more]
Wallengrenia
Windia
Xanthodisca
Xanthoneura
Xanthus
Xeniades
Xenophanes
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Xispia
Zera
Zestusa
At least 4 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Zestusa.
More info about the Genus Zestusa may be found here.
References
- ^ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Aegialini". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=694156. Retrieved on 2009-04-29.
- ^ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Megathymini". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=694271. Retrieved on 2009-04-29.
- ^ Warren A, Ogawa J, Brower A. (2008) Phylogenetic relationships of subfamilies and circumscription of tribes in the family Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea). Cladistics 24(5):642-676
Footnotes
- http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Aguna&search=Search
- http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Appia&search=Search
- http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Autochton&search=Search
- http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Calchas&search=Search
- http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Chiomara&search=Search
- http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Polites&search=Search
- http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Propertius&search=Search
- http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Rhesus&search=Search
- http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Staphylus&search=Search
- http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Stimula&search=Search
- http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Toxeus&search=Search
- http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Trina&search=Search
- http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Urbanus&search=Search
- ^ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Aegialini". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=694156. Retrieved on 2009-04-29.
- ^ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Megathymini". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=694271. Retrieved on 2009-04-29.
- ^ Warren A, Ogawa J, Brower A. (2008) Phylogenetic relationships of subfamilies and circumscription of tribes in the family Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea). Cladistics 24(5):642-676
Sources
- The text on this page is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It includes material from Wikipedia retrieved Thursday, August 13, 2009.
- The distribution map on the Distribution tab comes from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and is used with permission.
- Photographs on this page are copyrighted by individual photographers, and individual copyrights apply.
- The GMapImageCutter is used under license from the UCL Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis.
- The technology underlying this page, including the Image Browser and controls behind Keep Exploring, is owned by the BayScience Foundation. All rights are reserved.
