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Hesperiidae

(Family)

Overview

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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:

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

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Taxonomy

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The Family Hesperiidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

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Abantis

[more]

Ablepsis

[more]

Abraximorpha

[more]

Acada

[more]

Acerbas

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Achalarus

[more]

Achlyodes

[more]

Achylodes

Acleros

[more]

Acromecis

[more]

Adlerodea

[more]

Adopaeoides

[more]

Aecas

[more]

Aegiale

In , Aegiale may be: [more]

Aeromachus

[more]

Aethilla

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Agathymus

[more]

Aguna

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[1] [more]

Aides

Aides has various meanings: [more]

Alera

[more]

Allora

[more]

Amblyscirtes

[more]

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

[more]

Anatrytone

[more]

Ancistroides

[more]

Ancyloxypha

[more]

Andinus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Andronymus

[more]

Anisochoria

[more]

Anisynta

[more]

Ankola

[more]

Anthoptus

[more]

Antigonus

[more]

Apaustus

[more]

Appia

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[2] [more]

Apyrrothrix

[more]

Ardaris

[more]

Argon

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Argopteron

[more]

Arina

[more]

Arita

Arita is a . It can also refer to: [more]

Arnetta

[more]

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

[more]

Arteurotia

[more]

Artines

[more]

Artitropa

[more]

Asbolis

[more]

Aspitha

[more]

Astictopterus

[more]

Astraptes

Astraptes is the of flasher butterflies, which belong to the spread-wing skipper subfamily. [more]

Atalopedes

[more]

Atarnes

[more]

Atrytone

[more]

Atrytonopsis

[more]

Augiades

[more]

Autochton

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[3] [more]

Azonax

[more]

Badamia

Badamia is a genus of . [more]

Barbo

[more]

Bibasis

The awlets, Bibasis, are a of skipper butterflies. [more]

Bolla

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Borbo

[more]

Bungalotis

[more]

Burara

Cabares

[more]

Cabirus

[more]

Calchas

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[4] [more]

Calephelus

[more]

Callimormus

[more]

Calpodes

[more]

Caltoris

Caltoris is a genus of . Like several related genera, they are called "swifts". [more]

Carcharodus

[more]

Carrhenes

[more]

Carterocephalus

Carterocephalus is a in the skipper butterfly family, Hesperiidae. [more]

Carystoides

[more]

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

[more]

Cephrenes

[more]

Ceratrichia

[more]

Charidia

Savia or SAVIA can refer to: [more]

Chioides

[more]

Chiomara

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[5] [more]

Choaspes

Choaspes may be referring to: [more]

Chondrolepis

[more]

Chryoplectrum

Clito

[more]

Cobalopsis

[more]

Cobalus

[more]

Codatractus

[more]

Coeliades

[more]

Cogia

[more]

Coladenia

[more]

Conga

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Copaeodes

[more]

Corticea

[more]

Cycloglypha

[more]

Cymaenes

[more]

Cynea

[more]

Daimio

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Decinea

[more]

Dion

Dion may mean: [more]

Drephalys

[more]

Dyscophellus

[more]

Eagris

[more]

Eantis

[more]

Ebrietas

[more]

Ebusus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Elissa

[more]

Enosis

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Entheus

[more]

Epargyreus

[more]

Ephyriades

[more]

Erynnis

Erynnis is a in the Skippers butterfly family, Hesperiidae, known as the Duskywings. [more]

Euphyes

[more]

Euschemon

[more]

Eutocus

[more]

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

[more]

Grais

[more]

Haemactis

[more]

Halpe

[more]

Hasora

Hasora, the awls, are a of skipper butterflies. [more]

Helias

[more]

Heliopetes

[more]

Heliopyrgus

[more]

Hesperia

[more]

Hesperilla

[more]

Hesperopsis

[more]

Hyalothyrus

[more]

Hyarotis

[more]

Hylephila

[more]

Isoteinon

[more]

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

[more]

Lerema

[more]

Lerodea

[more]

Leucochitonea

[more]

Lindra

[more]

Lobocla

[more]

Marela

[more]

Megathymus

[more]

Mellana

[more]

Mesodina

[more]

Mictris

[more]

Milanion

[more]

Mimoniades

[more]

Mnaseas

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Mnasicles

[more]

Mnasilus

[more]

Moeris

[more]

Monca

[more]

Morys

[more]

Motasingha

[more]

Muschampia

[more]

Mylon

[more]

Myrinia

[more]

Narcosius

Nascus

[more]

Nastra

[more]

Neohesperilla

[more]

Neoxeniades

[more]

Netrocoryne

[more]

Niconiades

[more]

Nisoniades

[more]

Noctuana

[more]

Nyctelius

[more]

Oarisma

[more]

Ochlodes

Ochlodes is a in the skipper butterfly family, Hesperiidae. [more]

Ocybadistes

[more]

Odina

[more]

Oileus

Oligoria

[more]

Onenses

[more]

Onophas

[more]

Oreisplanus

[more]

Origenes

[more]

Orthos

Orthos can refer to: [more]

Osmodes

[more]

Otho

Ouleus

[more]

Paches

[more]

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

[more]

Paramimus

[more]

Paratrytone

[more]

Parelbella

Parnara

[more]

Parphorus

[more]

Pasma

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Peba

[more]

Pellicia

[more]

Pelopidas

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Penicula

[more]

Perichares

[more]

Perrotia

[more]

Phanes

Phanus

[more]

Phlebodes

[more]

Phocides

[more]

Pholisora

[more]

Piruna

[more]

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

[more]

Polythrix

[more]

Polytremis

[more]

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

[more]

Potanthus

Potanthus is a genus of . They are commonly known as Darts. [more]

Prada

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Problema

[more]

Proeidosa

Propapias

Propertius

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[7] [more]

Proteides

[more]

Pseudocopaeodes

[more]

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

[more]

Qasimellana

Quadrus

[more]

Quasimellana

[more]

Rachelia

[more]

Remella

Rhesus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[8] [more]

Rhinthon

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Saliana

[more]

Sarangesa

[more]

Sarmientoia

[more]

Saturnus

[more]

Sostrata

[more]

Spathilepia

[more]

Spialia

[more]

Stallingsia

[more]

Staphilus

Staphylus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[9] [more]

Stimula

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[10] [more]

Stinga

Suniana

[more]

Synapte

[more]

Syrichtus

[more]

Systasea

[more]

Tagiades

Tagiades is a genus of butterflies. [more]

Taractrocera

[more]

Tarsoctenus

[more]

Telemiades

[more]

Telicota

[more]

Thargella

[more]

Thespieus

[more]

Thessia

[more]

Thoressa

Thoressa is a of skipper butterflies. They are (like some other skippers) commonly known as "aces" or "ace butterflies". [more]

Thorybes

[more]

Thracides

[more]

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

[more]

Toxeus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[11] [more]

Toxidia

[more]

Tramba

Trapezites

[more]

Trina

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[12] [more]

Typhedanus

[more]

Udranomia

[more]

Urbanus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[13] [more]

Vacerra

[more]

Vehilius

[more]

Vettius

[more]

Vidius

[more]

Vinius

[more]

Virga

A Genus in the Kingdom Plantae. [more]

Wallengrenia

[more]

Windia

[more]

Xanthodisca

[more]

Xanthoneura

[more]

Xanthus

[more]

Xeniades

[more]

Xenophanes

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Xispia

[more]

Zera

[more]

Zestusa

[more]

At least 4 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Zestusa.

More info about the Genus Zestusa may be found here.

References

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  1. ^ "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. 
  2. ^ "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. 
  3. ^ 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

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  1. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Aguna&search=Search
  2. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Appia&search=Search
  3. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Autochton&search=Search
  4. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Calchas&search=Search
  5. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Chiomara&search=Search
  6. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Polites&search=Search
  7. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Propertius&search=Search
  8. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Rhesus&search=Search
  9. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Staphylus&search=Search
  10. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Stimula&search=Search
  11. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Toxeus&search=Search
  12. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Trina&search=Search
  13. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Urbanus&search=Search
  1. ^ "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. 
  2. ^ "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. 
  3. ^ 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

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Last Revised: September 22, 2009
2009/09/22 13:14:03