FAMILY HESPERIIDAE

• Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

• Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

• Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

• Insects (Class Insecta)

• Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

• Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)

• Butterflies (Superfamily Papilionoidea)

• Skippers (Family Hesperiidae)

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Family Hesperiidae, commonly known as the skippers, is a large family of butterflies within the superfamily Papilionoidea, containing more than 4,000 species distributed worldwide. Skippers are distinguished from other butterflies by their stout bodies, relatively large heads, hooked antennae with curved tips, and rapid, darting flight, which gives them their common name. They exhibit characteristics intermediate between typical butterflies and moths but are classified as true butterflies. Most species are small to medium-sized and are often brown, orange, yellow, or patterned with subtle markings, although some tropical species are brightly colored.