Family Hesperiidae - Skippers
| Family Hesperiidae - Skippers Spread-wing skippers (Pyrginae) Genus Chiomara White-patched Skipper Genus Eantis Sickle-winged Skipper Genus Erynnis: Duskywings Funereal Duskywing Juvenal's Duskywing Pacuvius Duskywing Propertius Duskywing Genus Epargyreus Silver-spotted Skipper Genus Heliopetes: White Skippers Laviana White Skipper Genus Heliopyrgus Erichson's White Skipper Genus Pholisora Common Sootywing Genus Pyrgus: Checkered-Skippers Common Checkered-Skipper Tropical Checkered Skipper Two-banded Checkered-Skipper Genus Thorybes Northern Cloudywing Genus Timochares Brown-banded Skipper Genus Urbanus Brown Longtail Dorantes Longtail Long-tailed Skipper Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae) Common Mellana Dakota Skipper Dun Skipper Eufala Skipper Fiery Skipper Juba Skipper Little Glassywing Sachem Sonoran Skipper Southern Skipperling Whirlabout Skipperlings (Heteropterinae) Arctic Skipper Butterfly Pictures |
The North American Butterfly Association (NABA) lists five subfamilies:
- Firetips (Subfamily Pyrrhopyginae)
- Spread-wing Skippers Subfamily Pyrginae
- Skipperlings Subfamily Heteropterinae
- Grass Skippers Subfamily Hesperiinae
- Giant-Skippers Subfamily Megathyminae
Approximately ninety per cent of the species belong to either the Spread-wing Skipper or Grass Skipper subfamilies. Only one species, the Dull Firetip, is represented in the Firetips subfamily. Only six skipperling and thirteen giant skippers are native species.
Wing position represents the quick and dirty field identification clue for differentiating between the Spread-wing Skippers and the Grass Skippers.
As the name suggests, Spread-wing skippers (subfamily Pyrginae) initially get identified by dark or brown wings that remain open at rest.
Most of the approximately one hundred and fifty species that live in the United States go by the common name of longtail, cloudywing, duskywing, sootywing and checkered-skipper.
About one-half of that number, principally checkered skippers, duskywings and sootywings, are considered common U.S. species. Of these species, only a handful such as the Silver-spotted Skipper, the Common Checkered Skipper, the Northern Cloudywing and the Sootywing Skipper, can be said to have a range that extends across the country. The other more common species have regionally limited habitats.
The other half of Pyrginae species are considered sub-tropical or tropical species and have a range in the United States that is limited to the southern most border areas.
Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae) constitute the largest subfamily. The name comes from the fact that their larvae feed on grass.
Approximately one hundred and forty grass skipper species, divide into approximately thirty genera live in the United States. Roadside skippers (Amblyscirtes) represent the largest genus.
The large number of species often translates into many similar looking species, and difficult identification. Their small size, generally orange or brown wings, large eyes and thick bodies serve as basic subfamily traits. Their habit of folding their wings while nectaring (as opposed to the spread-wing skipper), represents an additional identification clue.
The term folded-wing skippers may be a bit of a misnomer. Grass Skippers also often sit with their hindwings open and their forewings partially open or standing up. Because many grass skipper species are notoriously difficult to identify, having both side view and top view pictures helps promote accurate identification.
The links in the box at the left point to pictures and descriptions of a representative sample of of the Spread-wing and Grass Skipper species.
© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels