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.
The superfamily Papilionoidea contains all the butterflies except for the moth-like Hedyloidea.
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.
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.
Coeliadinae is a subfamily of the skipper butterfly family (Hesperiidae). With about 150 described species, this is one of several smallish skipper butterfly subfamilies. It was first proposed by William Frederick Evans in 1937.
The Celaenorrhinini are a tribe of spread-winged skippers in the skipper butterfly subfamily Tagiadinae.
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.
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.
Fresna nyassae, also known as the variegated Acraea skipper or variegated Acraea hopper, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found from Ghana and Kenya to South Africa.
Borbo holtzii, the variable swift, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Africa, including south-eastern Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Angola, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa and Eswatini. The habitat consists of frost-free savanna.
Gegenes hottentota, the marsh Hottentot skipper, Hottentot skipper or Latreille's skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Africa and south-western Arabia. The habitat consists of marshy areas with thick grass, especially in valleys.
Isoteinon abjecta, the abject hopper, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Mayoumbe) and Zambia. The habitat consists of forests and humid Guinea savanna.
The Erionotini are a tribe of skipper butterflies in the subfamily Hesperiinae.
Teniorhinus ignita, the fiery small fox , is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, western Uganda, western Tanzania and northern Zambia. The habitat consists of forests and woodland.
Meza indusiata, the snowy missile, is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The habitat consists of forests.
Meza larea is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. They are in subfamily Hesperiinae and the tribe Aeromachini. These beautiful butterflies were found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Shaba), western Tanzania, Malawi and northern Zambia.
Meza meza, the common missile, is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The habitat consists of disturbed and successional forests.
Ortholexis hollandi, commonly known as Holland's scarce sprite, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia. The habitat consists of wetter forests.
Ortholexis holocausta, the cinnamon scarce sprite, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and north-western Zambia. The habitat consists of forests.
