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Hesperiinae

(Subfamily)

Overview

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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.

Taxonomy

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The Subfamily Hesperiinae is a member of the Family Anthomyiidae. Here is the complete "parentage" of Hesperiinae:

The Subfamily Hesperiinae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

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Adopaeoides

[more]

Amblyscirtes

[more]

Ampittia

Ampittia is the genus 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]

Anatrytone

[more]

Ancyloxypha

[more]

Arrhenes

[more]

Asbolis

[more]

Atrytone

[more]

Atrytonopsis

[more]

Banta

[more]

Borbo

[more]

Calpodes

[more]

Caltoris

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

Carterocephalus

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

Cephrenes

[more]

Conga

The conga is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum of African origin, probably derived from the Congolese Makuta drums or Sikulu drums commonly played in Mbanza Ngungu, Congo. A person who plays conga is called a "conguero". [more]

Copaeodes

[more]

Corticea

[more]

Cymaenes

[more]

Decinea

[more]

Erionota

[more]

Erynnis

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

Euphyes

[more]

Gegenes

[more]

Hesperia

[more]

Hylephila

[more]

Iambrix

[more]

Kobrona

[more]

Leona

[more]

Lepella

[more]

Lerema

[more]

Metisella

[more]

Mimene

[more]

Monca

[more]

Nastra

[more]

Notocrypta

[more]

Nyctelius

[more]

Oarisma

[more]

Ochlodes

[more]

Ocybadistes

[more]

Oligoria

[more]

Osmodes

[more]

Panoquina

[more]

Paratrytone

[more]

Pardaleodes

[more]

Parnara

[more]

Pastria

[more]

Pelopidas

[more]

Perichares

[more]

Piruna

[more]

Pithauria

[more]

Plastingia

[more]

Poanes

[more]

Polites

[more]

Prada

[more]

Problema

[more]

Pseudocopaeodes

[more]

Rhinthon

[more]

Sabera

[more]

Sancus

[more]

Stinga

[more]

Suniana

[more]

Synapte

[more]

Taractrocera

[more]

Telicota

[more]

Thespieus

[more]

Thymelicus

[more]

Tiacellia

[more]

Vettius

[more]

Vidius

[more]

Wallengrenia

[more]

Xanthodisca

[more]

At least 9 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Xanthodisca.

More info about the Genus Xanthodisca may be found here.

Sources

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Last Revised: June 24, 2008