Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law. Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay. Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
HESPERIDAE - SKIPPERS
Named for their skipping flight style, Skippers are generally small to medium-sized, generally brownish butterflies with robust bodies, broad heads and hooked antennae. Worldwide over 3000 species are recognised and in Paraguay they are frequently amongst the most abundant, if overlooked, butterfly groups.
Click subfamilial links below for access to the Image Galleries.
Click on the photo to enlarge it to full size.
Click on the species links to access the FAUNA Paraguay Handbook of Paraguayan Fauna Species Account.
Characteristics
The monophyly of the skipper assemblage is supported by a rim-like demarcation in the peripheral region of the compound eye. The head is wider than the thorax and the bases of the antennae are widely-separated. The tip of the antennae are broadened into a club and hooked at the end - a structure correctly known as an apiculus. Chaetosemata are present either as a single pair on top of the vertex or with a secnd pair behind the antennae. The proboscis is well-developed, lackign scales at its base. Maxillary palpi are absent, labial palpi ascend. An epiphysis is present. The tibial spur formula varies and spurs are frequently absent from the midleg, typically the formula is 0-2-4, 0-0-4 or 0-0-2. On the forewing vein R1 and all branches of Rs do not stalk and arise directly from the cell. Vein CuP is absent in both wings. Depending on the subfamily wings may be held flattened, folded or the forewing folded and the hindwing flattened. Such wing positions are dictated by the architecture of the wing. The frenulum and retinaculum are absent in all Paraguayan species. The anepisternum is prominent, though reduced in the metathorax. The metafurcal apophysis is sagittate. Abdominal tergum A1 is only weakly pouched. (Smart 1975; Scoble 1995).
Life Cycles
Eggs may be smooth or ribbed, are laid singly and placed upright. In many species they are somewhat disc-shaped, being wider than they are high. The head and body of larvae are covered with abundant secondary setae and the head is separated from the prothorax by a prominent "neck". The prolegs have biordinal and triordinal crochets arranged in a circle. An anal comb is present. Larvae are leaf-folders or may live in tunnels which are often dusted with waxy secretions from the abdominal glands. Most larvae are cryptically-coloured and many feed on grasses. The pupa frequently is horned at the head end and the proboscis may even extend beyond the cremaster. It is usually concealed within the larval shelter and attached by a silk girdle within a weak cocoon. (Smart 1975; Scoble 1995; Turner D & Stanêk VJ 1992).
Classification
The Superfamily Hesperioidea consists of a single family Hesperiidae, composed of six subfamilies wordlwide, three of which are represented in Paraguay. We currently have images of 97 species in this family. Figures in brackets after the subfamilial names refer to the number of species for which we currently have images.
Superfamily Hesperioidea: Family Hesperiidae.
Subfamily Hesperiinae (37) Folded-winged Skippers
Rest with forewings raised and hindwings flattened or both wings folded. The larvae of members of this subfamily feed mainly on grasses and sedges. (Scoble 1995).
Subfamily Pyrginae (57) Flat-winged Skippers
Rest with wings open. Some species tailed. Male with jugate. (Scoble 1995).
Subfamily Pyrrhopyrginae (3) Firetips
Confined to Latin America with a single species making it up to the USA, Firetips are often colourful members of the Skipper family. Unlike other skippers they have long, pointed forewings, though they retain the robust body. The flight style is buzzy and slow, in a straight line and with shallow wingbeats. Rest with wings open. Lack jugate. (Scoble 1995).
References:
Canals GR 2000 - Mariposas Bonaerenses - LOLA, Buenos Aires.
Canals GR 2003 - Mariposas de Misiones - LOLA, Buenos Aires.
Scoble MJ 1995 - The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity - Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Smart P 1975 - The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Butterfly World - Salamander Books, London
Turner D, Stanêk VJ 1992 - The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Butterflies and Moths - Select Editions, London.
