Skipper (butterfly)

Insects in the family Hesperiidae (superfamily Hesperioidea) of the order Lepidoptera are commonly called skipper butterflies, after their quick, darting flight habits.

Skippers differ in several important ways from the remaining butterflies, which are classified in the superfamily Papilionoidea and the neotropical superfamily Hedyloidea. Collectively, these three groups of butterflies share several 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, whilst 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 3400 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 100 species)
• 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.

Examples include:

• Aaron's Skipper - Poanes aaroni
• Chequered Skipper - Carterocephalus palaemon
• Small Skipper - Thymelicus sylvestris
• Essex Skipper - Thymelicus lineola
• Lulworth Skipper - Thymelicus acteon
• Silver-spotted Skipper - Hesperia comma
• Large Skipper - Ochlodes venata
• Dingy Skipper - Erynnis tages
• Grizzled Skipper - Pyrgus malvae
• Dakota Skipper - Hesperia dacotae

References

• Ackery, P.R., de Jong, R and Vane-Wright, R.I. (1999). The Butterflies: Hedyloidea, Hesperioidea and Papilionoidae. Pp. 263-300 in Kristensen, N.P. (Ed.). Lepidoptera, Moths and Butterflies. Volume 1: Evolution, Systematics, and Biogeography. Handbuch der Zoologie. Eine Naturgeschichte der Stämme des Tierreiches / Handbook of Zoology. A Natural History of the phyla of the Animal Kingdom. Band / Volume IV Arthropoda: Insecta Teilband / Part 35: 491 pp. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, New York.

External links

• Skippers of North America: Large format diagnostic photographs Cirrus Digital Imaging
• Tree of Life Hesperiidae

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Hesperiidae

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