HESPERIIDAE Skippers FAUNA PARAGUAY

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.
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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 seven subfamilies worldwide, three of which are represented in Paraguay. A recent review of the higher level classification of the family by Warren et al (2008 &2009) resulted in a dramatic change at subfamilial level with the Pyrrhopyrginae being subsumed into the Pyrginae as a tribe, and the more robust and tailed Pyrginae being split into a separate subfamily Eudaminae. We currently have images of 128 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 (45) 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).
Tribe Incertae Sedis
*Silver-studded Ruby-eye Lycas argentea - Saltarín plateado
*Green-backed Ruby-eye Perichares philetes
*Perichares senex - Séneca
Tribe Anthoptini
*Anthoptus epictetus - Epicteto
*Yellow-spotted Skipper Corticea corticea - Manchas amarillas
*Corticea noctis
*Synapte silius
Tribe Calpodini
*Brazilian Skipper Calpodes ethlius - Saltarín Brasileño
*Ochre Skipper Evansiella cordela - Saltarín ocre
*Amber-banded Skipper Lychnuchoides ozias - Franja ámbar
*Panoquina lucas
*Ocola Skipper Panoquina ocola - Saltarín alas largas
*Thracides cleanthes
*Tisias lesueur
Tribe Hesperiini
*Conga chydaea
*Fiery Skipper Hylephila phylaeus - Saltarín leonado
*Metron oropa
*Violet-banded Skipper Nyctelius nyctelius - Nyctelios
*Whirlabout Polites vibex - Saltarín dorado
*Common Glassywing Pompeius pompeius
*Propertius propertius
*Canna Skipper Quinta cannae - Achirera
*Light-tipped Skipper Thespieus aspernatus - Tespio punta clara
*Dark-tipped Skipper Thespieus ethemides - Tespio punta oscura
*White-line Skipper Tirynthia conflua - Línea blanca
*Xeniades orchamus - Orchamus
Tribe Moncini
*Callimormus saturnus
*Cobalopsis nero
*Cobalopsis virbius
*Cymaenes lepta
*Cymaenes gisca
*Cymaenes tripunctata
*Eprius veleda
*Eutychide olimpia
*White-tailed Skipper Eutychide physcella - Saltarín punto blanco
*Lento krexoides
*Nastra ethologus
*Niconiades xanthaphes
*Phanes rezia
*Pheraeus odilia
*Yellow-veined Skipper Vehilius stictomenes - Nervaduras amarillas
*Vettius fantasas
*Vettius lucretius
*Marked Skipper Vettius marcus - Marco
*Little Yellow Skipper Zariaspes mys - Amarillita

Subfamily Eudaminae (34) Robust Flat-winged Skippers
Medium to large, many with tails. Rest with wings open. Male with jugate. (Scoble 1995).
*Yellow-tailed Astraptes Astraptes anaphus - Cola amarilla
*Chalk-spotted Blue Astraptes Astraptes creteus - Mancha de tiza
*Astraptes elorus - Elorus
*Flashing Astraptes - Astraptes fulgerator- Relampagueante
*Astraptes fulgor
*White-banded Skipper Autochton zarex - Saltarín franja blanca
*Bungalotis astylos
*White-striped Long-tailed Skipper Chioides catillus
*Gold-bordered Long-tailed Skipper Codatractus aminias
*Cogia calchas
*Cogia hassan
*Dyscophellus erythras
*Colossus Skipper Epargyreus clavicornis - Saltarín coloso
*Narcosius parisi
*Common Scarlet-Eye Nascus phocus - Foco
*Oechydrus chersis
*Black Boatman Phocides charon - Caronte
*Red-shouldered Boatman Phocides polybus
*Polygonus leo
*Polygonus savigny
*Polythrix caunus
*Polythrix octomaculatus - Tujú
*Mercurial Skipper Proteides mercurius - Mercurio
*Typhedanus undulatus
*Urbanus chalco
*Lilac-banded Long-tailed Skipper Urbanus dorantes - Coludo manchas doradas
*White-tipped Long-tailed Skipper Urbanus doryssus - Puntas blancas
*Urbanus esta
*Urbanus procne - Coludo golondrina
*Turquoise Long-tailed Skipper Urbanus proteus - Coludo azul
*Urbanus pronta
*Plain Long-tailed Skipper Urbanus simplicus - Coludo simple
*Lined Long-tailed Skipper Urbanus teleus - Coludo linea blanca
*Urbanus zagorus

Subfamily Pyrginae (49) Delicate Flat-winged Skippers and Fire-tips
Small to medium-sized. Rest with wings open. Male with jugate. (Scoble 1995).
Tribe Achylodidini
*Giant Sicklewing Achlyodes busirus - Busiris
*Common Sicklewing Achylodes mithridates thraso - Saltarín gancho
*White Shield Skipper Milanion leucaspis - Escudo blanco
*Blue Lance Skipper Pythonides lancea - Lanza
*Ceres´ Skipper Quadrus cerialis - Saltarín de Ceres
*Quadrus u-lucida
Tribe Carcharodini
*Bolla sp.
*Nisionades macarius
*Pellicia vecina
*Staphlyus ascalon - Ascalonita
Tribe Celanorrhini
*Obstinate Skipper Celaenorrhinus similis - Terca
Tribe Erynnini
*Anastrus semipternus simplicior
*Camptopleura auxo
*White-patched Skipper Chiomara asychis - Parche blanco
*Chiomara mithrax
*Black-patched Duskywing Ebrietas anacreon - Anacreonte
*Erynnis funeralis
*Gesta gesta
*Gorgythion begga - Bega
*Gorgythion beggina - Beggina
*Hermit Skipper Grais stigmaticus
*False Moth Skipper Helias phalaenoides - Falsa polilla
*Mylon maimon - Menipo
*Mylon pelopidas
*Lavender Skipper Sostrata bifasciata - Saltarín lavanda
*Sostrata cronion
*Three-banded Skipper Timochares trifasciata - Tres Franjas
Tribe Pyrgini
*Anisochoria pedaliodina
*Cut-wing Skipper Anisochoria sublimbata - Ala cortada
*Antigonus erosus
*Antigonus nearchus
*Clito bubulus
*Alana´s White Skipper Heliopetes alana - Alano
*Heliopetes arsalte - Arsalte
*Libra White Skipper Heliopetes libra - Libra
*Heliopetes omrina - Omrina
*Heliopyrgus domicella
*Common Checkered Skipper Pyrgus orycnoides - Cuadriculada común
*Pluto´s Checkered Skipper Pyrgus orcus - Cuadriculada de Plutón
*Geometric Skipper - Trina geometrina
*Glossy-winged Skipper Xenophanes tryxus - Jenófanes
*Zopyrion evenor
Tribe Pyrrhopygini
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).
*Elbella azetta giffordi
*Jemadia hewitsoni
*Myscelus amystis - Epigono
*Myscelus epimachia
*Mysoria barcastus
*Passova passova
*Devil Skipper Pyrrhopyge charybdis - Diablito
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.
Warren AD, Ogawa JR, Brower AVZ 2008 - Phylogenetic Relationships of Subfamilies and Circumscription of Tribes in the Family Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera Hesperioidea) - Cladistics 24: p642-676.
Warren AD, Ogawa JR, Brower AVZ 2009 - Revised Classification of the Family Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera Hesperioidea) Based on Combined Molecular and Morphological Data - Systematic Entomology 34: p467-523.