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.
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.
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.
Astraptes, commonly known as the flasher butterflies, is a genus of skipper butterflies in the subfamily Eudaminae. They are found in the Nearctic and Neotropical ecozones.
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.
Autochton is a genus of skipper butterflies. They belong to the subfamily Eudaminae, which was long included with the spread-winged skippers (Pyrginae) as a tribe. They are found from Mexico to South America.
Aurina is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae, in which it is placed in tribe Phocidini.
Chioides is a mainly Neotropical genus of skipper butterflies in the family Hesperiidae (Eudaminae)
Favria is a monotypic genus of spread-wing skippers in the butterfly family Hesperiidae. This genus was formerly a synonym of Muschampia, and its only species, Favria cribrellum, was formerly a member of Muschampia. The species is commonly known as the spinose skipper.
Heliopetes is a Neotropical genus of spread-winged skipper butterflies in the family Hesperiidae.
Oileides is a genus of Neotropical spread-winged skippers in the family Hesperiidae.
Phareas is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae, within which it is placed in tribe Phocidini.
Racta is a genus of grass skippers in the butterfly family Hesperiidae.
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.
Zestusa is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae subfamily Eudaminae. Species of the genus occur in Mexico and the western United States.
Burnsius oileus, the tropical checkered skipper, is a species of skipper. It is found in the United States, south through the West Indies, Mexico and Central America to Costa Rica. It was transferred to genus Burnsius in 2019, and was previously known as Pyrgus oileus.
Nicephellus is a monotypic genus of Neotropical butterflies in the family Hesperiidae, in which it is placed in tribe Phocidini.
Burnsius is a genus of New World checkered-skippers in the butterfly family Hesperiidae. The genus was erected by Nick V. Grishin in 2019.
Chirgus is a genus of checkered-skippers, white-skippers, and allies in the butterfly family Hesperiidae, found in the New World. The genus was erected by Nick V. Grishin in 2019. There are about six described species in Chirgus.
Ernsta is a genus of spread-wing skippers in the butterfly family Hesperiidae. There are about 14 described species in Ernsta, found mainly in Africa. These species were formerly members of the genus Spialia.
