Difference between revisions of "Skipper (butterfly)" - New World Encyclopedia
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A '''skipper''' is a [[butterfly]] of the [[family (biology)|family]] '''Hesperiidae''' (superfamily Hesperioidea), named after their quick, darting flight habits. There are more than 3500 recognized species of skippers and they occur worldwide,but with the greatest diversity occurring in the tropical regions of [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]]. | A '''skipper''' is a [[butterfly]] of the [[family (biology)|family]] '''Hesperiidae''' (superfamily Hesperioidea), named after their quick, darting flight habits. There are more than 3500 recognized species of skippers and they occur worldwide,but with the greatest diversity occurring in the tropical regions of [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]]. | ||
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| + | ==Overview== | ||
| + | : A '''butterfly''' is an [[insect]] of the Order Lepidoptera that belongs to either the superfamily Papilionoidea or the superfamily Hesperioidea (“the skippers”). Some authors would include also members of the superfamily Hedyloidea, the American butterfly moths. Although the skippers (superfamily Hesperioidea) are usually counted as butterflies, they are somewhat intermediate between the rest of the butterflies and the remaining Lepidoptera, the [[moth]]s. In reality, the separation of Lepidoptera into butterflies and moths is a common, not a [[taxonomy|taxonomic]] classification, and does not involve taxonomic rank. | ||
| + | :Presently, butterflies are classified in two superfamilies, Hesperioidea, consisting of the 'skippers,' and Papilionoidea, or 'true butterflies.' Skippers differ in several important ways from the remaining butterflies. Skippers have the antennae clubs hooked backward, have stocky bodies, and possess stronger wing muscles and better [[eye]]s. However, Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea are considered sister ''taxa'', so the butterflies collectively are thought to constitute a true clade. Some modern taxonomists place them all in superfamily Papilionoidea, distinguishing the skippers from the other butterflies at the series level only. In this system, Papilionoidea consists of the series Hesperiiformes (with one family only, the skipper family Hesperiidae) and the series Papilioniformes (with five families). When skippers are classified in the superfamily Hesperioidea, it also includes the one family, the Hesperiidae. | ||
Skippers differ in several important ways from the remaining butterflies, which are classified in the superfamily [[Papilionoidea]] and the [[neotropical]] superfamily [[Hedyloidea]]. Collectively, these three groups of butterflies share several characteristics especially in the egg, larval and pupal stage (Ackery et al. 1999). However, skippers have the [[antenna (biology)|antenna]]e clubs hooked backward like a [[crochet hook]], whilst butterflies have club-like tips to their antennae and hedylids have feathered or [[pectinate]] antennae giving them an even more moth-like appearance than skippers. Skippers also have generally stockier bodies than the other two groups, with stronger wing muscles. [[Hesperioidea]] is very likely the sister group of [[Papilionoidea]], and together with Hedyloidea constitute a natural group or [[clade]]. | Skippers differ in several important ways from the remaining butterflies, which are classified in the superfamily [[Papilionoidea]] and the [[neotropical]] superfamily [[Hedyloidea]]. Collectively, these three groups of butterflies share several characteristics especially in the egg, larval and pupal stage (Ackery et al. 1999). However, skippers have the [[antenna (biology)|antenna]]e clubs hooked backward like a [[crochet hook]], whilst butterflies have club-like tips to their antennae and hedylids have feathered or [[pectinate]] antennae giving them an even more moth-like appearance than skippers. Skippers also have generally stockier bodies than the other two groups, with stronger wing muscles. [[Hesperioidea]] is very likely the sister group of [[Papilionoidea]], and together with Hedyloidea constitute a natural group or [[clade]]. | ||
Revision as of 23:17, 28 January 2009
| Skipper Butterfly | ||||||||||||||
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 Green Grass-Dart Skipper Butterfly, Ocybadistes walkeri
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| About 550 genera, 3,500 species | ||||||||||||||
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Coeliadinae |
A skipper is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae (superfamily Hesperioidea), named after their quick, darting flight habits. There are more than 3500 recognized species of skippers and they occur worldwide,but with the greatest diversity occurring in the tropical regions of Central and South America.
Overview
- A butterfly is an insect of the Order Lepidoptera that belongs to either the superfamily Papilionoidea or the superfamily Hesperioidea (“the skippers”). Some authors would include also members of the superfamily Hedyloidea, the American butterfly moths. Although the skippers (superfamily Hesperioidea) are usually counted as butterflies, they are somewhat intermediate between the rest of the butterflies and the remaining Lepidoptera, the moths. In reality, the separation of Lepidoptera into butterflies and moths is a common, not a taxonomic classification, and does not involve taxonomic rank.
- Presently, butterflies are classified in two superfamilies, Hesperioidea, consisting of the 'skippers,' and Papilionoidea, or 'true butterflies.' Skippers differ in several important ways from the remaining butterflies. Skippers have the antennae clubs hooked backward, have stocky bodies, and possess stronger wing muscles and better eyes. However, Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea are considered sister taxa, so the butterflies collectively are thought to constitute a true clade. Some modern taxonomists place them all in superfamily Papilionoidea, distinguishing the skippers from the other butterflies at the series level only. In this system, Papilionoidea consists of the series Hesperiiformes (with one family only, the skipper family Hesperiidae) and the series Papilioniformes (with five families). When skippers are classified in the superfamily Hesperioidea, it also includes the one family, the Hesperiidae.
Skippers differ in several important ways from the remaining butterflies, which are classified in the superfamily Papilionoidea and the neotropical superfamily Hedyloidea. Collectively, these three groups of butterflies share several characteristics especially in the egg, larval and pupal stage (Ackery et al. 1999). However, skippers have the antennae clubs hooked backward like a crochet hook, whilst butterflies have club-like tips to their antennae and hedylids have feathered or pectinate antennae giving them an even more moth-like appearance than skippers. Skippers also have generally stockier bodies than the other two groups, with stronger wing muscles. Hesperioidea is very likely the sister group of Papilionoidea, and together with Hedyloidea constitute a natural group or clade.
There are about 3500 species of Skippers. They are usually classified in the following subfamilies:
- Awls, Awlets and Policemen (Subfamily Coeliadinae, about 75 species)
- Grass Skippers (Subfamily Hesperiinae, over 2000 species)
- Skipperlings (Subfamily Heteropterinae, about 150 species)
- Giant Skippers (Subfamily Megathyminae, about 100 species)
- Spread-winged Skippers (Subfamily Pyrginae, about 1000 species)
- Firetips (Subfamily Pyrrhopyginae, about 150 species)
- Australian Skippers (Subfamily Trapezitinae, about 60 species)
A phylogeny of the families based on DNA sequence data.[1] |
Note: Some authorities treat the Giant Skippers as a separate family, the Megathymidae, but more modern classifications place them within the subfamily Hesperiinae in the family Hesperiidae.
Many species of skippers look frustratingly alike. For example, some species in the genera Erynnis, Hesperia, and Amblyscirtes cannot currently be distinguished in the field by experts, the only reliable method of telling them apart involving dissection and examination of the genitalia.
Notes
- ↑ Warren A, Ogawa J, Brower A. (2008) Phylogenetic relationships of subfamilies and circumscription of tribes in the family Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea). Cladistics 24(5):642-676
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Ackery, P.R., de Jong, R and Vane-Wright, R.I. (1999). The Butterflies: Hedyloidea, Hesperioidea and Papilionoidae. Pp. 263-300 in Kristensen, N.P. (Ed.). Lepidoptera, Moths and Butterflies. Volume 1: Evolution, Systematics, and Biogeography. Handbuch der Zoologie. Eine Naturgeschichte der Stämme des Tierreiches / Handbook of Zoology. A Natural History of the phyla of the Animal Kingdom. Band / Volume IV Arthropoda: Insecta Teilband / Part 35: 491 pp. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, New York.
External links
- Nearctica North America (Index page)
- Skippers of North America: Large format diagnostic photographs Cirrus Digital Imaging
- Tree of Life Hesperiidae
- bean leafroller on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
- Megathymus yuccae, yucca giant-skipper on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
- Epargyreus clarus, silver-spotted skipper on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
- Internet Archive Free downlad of Watson, E.Y. 1891 Hesperiidae Indicae : being a reprint of descriptions of the Hesperiidae of India, Burma, and Ceylon
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