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.
Pyrgus is a genus in the skippers butterfly family, Hesperiidae, known as the grizzled skippers. The name "checkered" or "chequered skipper" may also be applied to some species, but also refers to species in the genera Burnsius and Carterocephalus. They occur in the Holarctic with an additional group of species extending to the Neotropic.
Gegenes nostrodamus, commonly known as the dingy swift, light pygmy skipper, Mediterranean skipper or veloz de las rieras, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae. It is found from the Mediterranean Sea, through Anatolia to Turkestan and India.
The Celaenorrhinini are a tribe of spread-winged skippers in the skipper butterfly subfamily Tagiadinae.
Eretis is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.
Gegenes pumilio, the pigmy skipper or dark Hottentot, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea through Anatolia to the Himalaya and south in the whole of Africa.
Eretis djaelaelae, commonly known as the marbled elf, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found from Somalia southwards to South Africa. The habitat consists of savanna woodland and sometimes also grassland. Similar to Eretis umbra but has white forelegs.
Eretis umbra, commonly known as the small marbled elf, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found from South Africa to eastern Africa and Uganda. Similar to Eretis djaelaelae but lacks white forelegs.
Borbo fallax, the false swift, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in tropical Africa. In South Africa it is found in Eswatini, coastal KwaZulu-Natal, northern Gauteng and the Limpopo Province and the extreme north-east of the North West Province. The habitat consists of coastal bush and moist savanna.
The Erionotini are a tribe of skipper butterflies in the subfamily Hesperiinae.
Caenides dacela, commonly known as the common recluse, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found within the geographical range that stretches from the Basse Casamance in Senegal to Uganda and Kenya, but generally does not penetrate much south of the Equator. Amongst the genus Caenides, Caenides dacela is the most common and most widely distributed. The habitat consists of forests.
Eretis buamba is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and western Uganda.
Eretis camerona is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and western Uganda.
Eretis herewardi is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. The habitat consists of woodland.
Eretis lugens, commonly known as the savanna elf, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Senegal, northern Guinea, northern Sierra Leone, Liberia, northern Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, southern Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania and north-western Zambia. The habitat consists of Sudan savanna, open Guinea savanna, forest margins, forests and dense woodland.
Eretis melania, also known as the dusky elf, dusky skipper or common elf, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, southern Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, northern Zambia, Mozambique, eastern Zimbabwe and northern Namibia. The habitat consists of woodland, Guinea savanna, forest margins and forests.
Eretis mitiana is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Uganda, western Kenya and western Tanzania. The habitat consists of highland forests.
Eretis mixta is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Ethiopia and southern Sudan.
Eretis vaga is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, western Kenya, north-western Tanzania and Zambia. They live in forests.
