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.
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.
Caprona is an Afrotropical genus of skipper butterflies. They belong to the tribe Tagiadini of subfamily Pyrginae.
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.
Ankola is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae. It contains only one species, Ankola fan, the Ankole skipper, which is found in eastern Nigeria, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, western Kenya, north-western Tanzania and Zambia. The habitat consists of forests and thick vegetation bordering streams. Some cultures use this insect in the cheese-making process.
Gyrogra is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae. It contains only one species, Gyrogra subnotata, the odd leaf sitter, which is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The habitat consists of forests.
Katreus is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae. It consists of only one species, Katreus johnstonii, the giant scarce sprite, which is found in Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo. The habitat consists of primary, undisturbed forests.
Leona is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.
Lepella is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae. It consists of only one species, Lepella lepeletier, Lepeletier's sylph, which is found in eastern Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Uganda, western Kenya, western Tanzania and north-western Zambia. The habitat consists of submontane grassland.
Mopala is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae. It consists of only one species, Mopala orma, the orma, which is found in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The habitat consists of wet forests.
Osphantes is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae. It consists of only one species, Osphantes ogowena, the lobed skipper, which is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia. The habitat consists of wetter forests.
Procampta is a genus of butterflies in the family Hesperiidae. It consists of only one species, Procampta rara, the rare elf, which is found in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The habitat consists of drier forests.
Pyrrhiades is a genus of butterflies in the family Hesperiidae. It contains only one species, Pyrrhiades lucagus, the western blue policeman, which is found in Liberia, Ivory Coast and Ghana. The habitat consists of coastal forests.
Pyrrhochalcia is a genus of butterflies in the family Hesperiidae. It contains only one species, Pyrrhochalcia iphis, the African giant skipper, which is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and Angola. It was first described by Dru Drury in 1773.
Potanthus serina, the large dart, is a species of butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found on the Andamans, as well as in southern Burma, Singapore and the Philippines. The habitat consists of grassy areas and mangrove areas.
Chondrolepis ducarmei is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is endemic to the Albertine Rift. The habitat consists of submontane areas.
Chondrolepis uluguru is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Tanzania. The habitat consists of submontane areas.
Caenides dacela, the common recluse, is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. All members of Caenides are 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. It is found in Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Bioko, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, western Kenya, western Tanzania and northern Zambia. Amongst the genus Caenides, Caenides dacela is the most common and most widely distributed. The habitat consists of forests.
Loxolexis hollandi, or Holland's scarce sprite, is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. The species was first described by Hamilton Herbert Druce in 1909. 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.
