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.
Pardaleodes fan, the Ankole skipper, is a species of skipper in the family Hesperiidae. It 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.
Gretna is a genus of skipper butterflies in the family Hesperiidae. It is the only genus in the monotypic tribe Gretnini.
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.
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, commonly known as 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.
The Erionotini are a tribe of skipper butterflies in the subfamily Hesperiinae.
Ceratricula is a genus of butterflies in the family Hesperiidae. It is monotypic, being represented by the species Ceratricula semilutea, commonly known as the tufted forest sylph which is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, north-western Tanzania and north-western Zambia. The habitat consists of forests.
Chondrolepis uluguru is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in the Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania. The habitat consists of submontane areas.
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.
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.
Matapa is a genus of grass skipper butterflies in the family Hesperiidae. The species of this genus occur in the Indomalayan realm, from India to Sulawesi. They are mainly crepuscular and have red eyes.
