| Giant skippers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Agathymus aryxna | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Hesperiidae |
| Subfamily: | Hesperiinae |
| Tribe: | Megathymini J. H. Comstock and A. Comstock, 1895 |
| Genera | |
See text | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The giant skippers (Megathymini) are a tribe of butterflies in the family Hesperiidae. [1]
Formerly, some authorities have classified the tribe as the disputed subfamily Megathyminae, but more modern classifications have placed it within the subfamily Hesperiinae. The tribe Megathymini includes five genera and about eighteen species. These butterflies typically live in desert areas of the south-western United States and Mexico. [2]
The giant skippers are larger than the other members of the family Hesperiidae, but are medium-sized butterflies with thick bodies. [3] They tend to be brown with yellow markings. The antennae are unhooked and some species even possess a short apiculus. [2] Long hairlike scales are present on the upperwings of males. [2] Their flight is fast and rapid. [3] Males are territorial and tend to perch on low vegetation. [3] Adults do not derive sustenance from flowers and rarely feed. [2] [3] Males do visit wet sand in order to drink. [2]
The eggs of members of the genera Megathymus and Stallingsia are glued to leaves, while the eggs of Agathymus species are dumped into host plant clumps. [2] The caterpillars of the giant skippers bury themselves into the leaf or stem of a plant and feed from within the silk-lined tunnels they create. Pupae are formed in these tunnels. [2]
The tribe of includes the following genera:
Skippers are a family of the Lepidoptera named the Hesperiidae. Being diurnal, they are generally called butterflies. 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 Celaenorrhinini are a tribe of spread-winged skippers in the skipper butterfly subfamily Tagiadinae.
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.
Lamponia is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.
Moeris is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.
Nyctus is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.
Paracarystus is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.
Paratrytone is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.
Phlebodes is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae, subfamily Hesperiinae.
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.
Tigasis is a Neotropical genus of grass skippers in the family Hesperiidae.
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.
The Erionotini are a tribe of skipper butterflies in the subfamily Hesperiinae.