Skippers are a group of butterflies placed in the family Hesperiidae within the order Lepidoptera. They were previously placed in a separate superfamily, Hesperioidea; however, the most recent taxonomy places the family in the superfamily Papilionoidea, the butterflies. They are named for their quick, darting flight habits. Most have their antenna tips modified into narrow, hook-like projections. Moreover, skippers mostly have an absence of wing-coupling structure available in most moths. More than 3500 species of skippers are recognized, and they occur worldwide, but with the greatest diversity in the Neotropical regions of Central and South America.
Grass skippers or banded skippers are butterflies of the subfamily Hesperiinae, part of the skipper family, Hesperiidae. The subfamily was established by Pierre André Latreille in 1809.
Pyrginae, commonly known as spread-winged skippers, are a subfamily of the skipper butterfly family (Hesperiidae). The subfamily was established by Hermann Burmeister in 1878. Their delimitation and internal systematics has changed considerably in recent years with the most recent review being in 2019.
Firetips or firetail skippers are skipper butterflies in the subfamily Pyrrhopyginae. The roughly 150 species are found only in the Neotropics, with the exception of one species which just reaches into the United States. Their common names refer to the red tuft at the end of the abdomen of many Pyrrhopyginae.
The Hesperiini or branded grass skippers are a tribe in the Hesperiinae subfamily of skipper butterflies. They are known as branded grass skippers because all the males in this tribe feature a black diagonal brand of scales on their forewings that exude pheromones to attract females.
The Astictopterini are a tribe in the Hesperiinae subfamily of skipper butterflies. As most Hesperiinae have not yet been assigned to tribes, more genera may be placed here eventually.
The Eudaminae are a subfamily of skipper butterflies. Their original type genus Eudamus is today a junior synonym of Urbanus. They are largely found in the Neotropics, with some extending into temperate North America, and one genus, Lobocla, endemic to East Asia.
The Pyrgini are a tribe in the skipper butterfly subfamily Pyrginae. Formerly, when only four tribes of Pyrginae were recognized, the Pyrgini contained the largest number of genera among these. But this overly wide delimitation has since turned out to be paraphyletic.
The Tagiadini are a tribe of skipper butterflies in the family Hesperiidae. Many of its genera were of uncertain relationships for long, and delimitation of the Tagiadini versus the Celaenorrhinini was quite disputed at times. The species of this tribe are found in mostly tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australia.
The giant skippers (Megathymini) are a tribe of butterflies in the family Hesperiidae.
Bungalotis is a genus of Neotropical butterflies in the family Hesperiidae (Eudaminae), in which they are placed to genus Phocidini.
Chamunda chamunda is a species of spread-winged skipper in the family Hesperiidae. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Chamunda and the monotypic subfamily Chamundinae. It is found from Assam to Burma, Thailand, Laos, Peninsular Malaysia and possibly Java.
Dyscophellus is a genus of largely Neotropical butterflies in the family Hesperiidae. The genus has been the subject of recent revisions based on genome analysis. It is currently placed in tribe Phocidini within the subfamily Eudaminae.
Phareas is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae, within which it is placed in tribe Phocidini.
Telegonus is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae, in which it is placed in subtribe Eudamina. It has been the subject of recent revision, and now includes several species formerly in Astraptes, Autochton and Urbanus.
Zestusa is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae subfamily Eudaminae. Species of the genus occur in Mexico and the western United States.
The Carcharodini are a tribe in the skipper butterfly subfamily Pyrginae. They are a very diverse but quite plesiomorphic and inconspicuous group distributed throughout the tropics.
Ortholexis melichroptera, the black scarce sprite, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon. The habitat consists of dense primary forests.
Burnsius is a genus of New World checkered-skippers in the butterfly family Hesperiidae. The genus was erected by Nick V. Grishin in 2019.
Chirgus is a genus of checkered-skippers, white-skippers, and allies in the butterfly family Hesperiidae, found in the New World. The genus was erected by Nick V. Grishin in 2019. There are about six described species in Chirgus.
