The Skippers (Hesperiidae) are small butterflies, where their name is referring to their rapid and darting flight. In some species the adults rest with the forewings and hindwings in different planes, a characteristic never found in other families. They have several other characteristics that make them considered a more primitive group of butterflies, related to some moth families. The well-known subfamilies are the Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae), Skipperlings (Heteropterinae), and the Spread-winged Skippers (Pyrginae). In the tropical region, you can find the Long-tailed Skippers (Eudaminae). Skippers have sturdy antennae with a relatively wide separation at their base and the antennal club is hooked. They are also equipped with a strikingly long coiling tongue. Some species have “tails” on the hindwing.
Subfamily: Eudaminae
Tribe: Eudamini
Genus: Urbanus
Plain Longtail – 2017 (CO)
(NCBI-index: 355208)
The Plain Longtail (Urbanus simplicius) belongs to a tribe of the Eudaminae, the Eudamini (long tails). They occur in (sub)tropical areas and often along forest roads at altitudes of up to 1500 meters. I spotted this longtail in Bogotá (Colombia) on a mountain path, used as a pilgrimage road, to the church on Montserrate. The butterfly has spread its wings in its resting state, is completely brown and has a striking “feathered” tail. Males have a costal fold enclosing scent scales on the costa of the forewing. The inner band of the hindwing underside is connected to the brown spot near the costa. At the costa, there is sometimes a small thin cream-colored stripe. The wingspan is 38-50mm. Host plant: Herbs and grasses of the legume family. Dutch name: Gewone langstaart. Frisian name: Gewoane langsturt.
Subfamily: Eudaminae
Tribe: Eudamini
Genus: Urbanus
Long-tail Skipper – 2017 (CO)
(NCBI-index: 355207)
The Long-tail Skipper (Urbanus proteus) is a butterfly that is directly related to the Plain Longtail (Urbanus simplicius). This skipper occurs in the subtropical region of America. I spotted this butterfly in Medellin (Colombia). The Long-tail Skipper has cream-colored spots on both the top and underside of the wing. Most noticeable is the blue-green color on the top of the body. The difference with the Urbanus dorantes, which does not have a blue-green color but looks more like the Long-tail Skipper, is the black continuous band at the underside of the hindwing. The wingspan is 45-60mm. The antennas don’t really have a knob on the end. You can see very nicely the slightly thickened curved hook. Host plant: Herbs of the legume family, Pea, Bean, Soy. Dutch name: Langstaartdikkopje. Frisian name: Langsturtgroukopke.
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Tribe: Erionotini
Genus: Suastus
Palm Bob – 2022 (INA)
(NCBI-index: 218763)
The Palm Bob (Suastus gremius) is common in Indonesia. Sightings are quite common in nature reserves and urban parks and gardens. During my trip to Bali, I saw this species for the first time in Beraban. The adults are fast fliers and are skittish when disturbed. They visit flowers, bask in sunny weather, and settle on bird droppings. The upper side of the wings is brown and the forewing is decorated with light yellow spots in the cell end and spaces 1b, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8. The upper side of the hind wing is unmarked. The torn cilia are whitish. The undersides of the wings are grey-brown and the hindwing is covered with pale yellow scales and has several fairly large and well-defined black spots. The wingspan is 33-35mm. Host plant: Palm Tree. Dutch name: Palmdikkopje. Frisian name: –
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Tribe: Hesperiini
Genus: Lerema
Clouded Skipper – 2017 (CO)
(NCBI-index: 691651)
A skipper that also has white spots on the wings like the Long-tail Skipper (Urbanus proteus) is the Clouded Skipper (Lerema accasius). However, the long tail is missing. The Clouded Skipper spotted in Medellin, Columbia, has dark brown wings with the male having a dark black stripe on the top of the forewing and the female having transparent white spots. The underside of the hindwing has dark and light spots and a blue-green glow. The wingspan is 32-45mm and the flight period is all year round. Host plant: St. Augustine grass and Wooly Beard grass. Dutch name: Gevlekt dikkopje. Frisian name: –
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Tribe: Hesperiini
Genus: Ochlodes
Large Skipper – 2016 (NL)
(NCBI-index: 876063)
The Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) is a butterfly that flies around in one generation from early June to September. The males are most often found perching in a prominent, sunny position, awaiting passing females. The butterfly is easy to identify where the hooks on the tip of the antenna are distinctive and are not present with the Small and Essex Skipper. Males have a thick black scent line through the center of the forewing. Undersides have faint orange spots. The presence of a faint chequered pattern on both sides of the wings distinguishes this species from the Small and Essex Skipper. The wingspan is 33-35mm. Host plant: Cock’s-foot, False Brome, and Purple Moor-grass. Dutch name: Groot dikkopje. Frisian name: Foars groukopke.
Flying period:
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Tribe: Hesperiini
Genus: Thymelicus
Small Skipper – 2008 (NL)
(NCBI-index: 272628)
The Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) is a butterfly that flies around in one generation from May to August. The butterfly is very difficult to identify and is often confused with the Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola). The tips of the antenna are orange (best-viewed-head-on) and the black edge of the wings is sharply marked. Males have a thin black line through the center of the forewing. They have bright orange-brown wings held with the forewings angled above the hindwings. A closer examination shows many individuals nectaring or basking with their wings held in the half-open posture which is distinctive for skipper butterflies. The wingspan is 30mm. Host plant: Meadow Foxtail, Timothy grass, False Brome, and Cock’s-foot. Dutch name: Geelsprietdikkopje. Frisian name: Gielteistergroukopke.
Flying period:
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Tribe: Hesperiini
Genus: Thymelicus
Essex Skipper – 2009 (NL)
(NCBI-index: 218773)
The Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola) is a butterfly that flies in one generation from late June to late August. The butterfly is fairly easy to identify, but attention should be paid to similar skippers. The tip of the antenna tip is black and the black border on the wings can be seen running along the veins. The orange-brown wings are held with the forewings angled above the hindwings. Males have a thin black line through the center of the forewing, but this scent brand is shorter for the Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) and doesn’t angle to the edge of the forewing. The wingspan is 27-30mm. Host plant: Cock’s-foot, Timothy, and Creeping Soft-grass. Dutch name: Zwartsprietdikkopje. Frisian name: Swartteistergroukopke.
Flying period:
Subfamily: Heteropterinae
Genus: Carterocephalus
Chequered Skipper – 2023 (BE)
(NCBI-index: 218720)
The Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon) is a distinctive butterfly with many yellow markings. The top of the brown forewing contains many larger yellow spots that are separated by brown veins, while on the top of the hindwing, the spots are smaller and less present. The underside of the forewing is orange with brown spots. The underside of the hindwing is yellow with several larger, striking light yellow, black-rimmed spots, and along the trailing edge some smaller, light yellow, black-rimmed spots that are neatly lined up. The base of the antennal bud is dark underneath in the male and yellow in the female. The flight period is in one generation from mid-May to the end of June and the wingspan is 29-31mm. Host plant: Purple Moor-grass. Dutch name: Bont dikkopje. Frisian name: Bûnt groukopke.
Flying period:
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Genus: Pyrgus
Oberthür’s Grizzled Skipper – 2023 (DE)
(NCBI-index: 876069)
In the Netherlands, you will not encounter the Oberthür’s Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus armoricanus), but in Germany, this butterfly has expanded considerably in the last decade. During a butterfly trip, a different route had to be chosen due to a road closure. In addition, a beautiful field with spicy crops was passed, where it was decided to see if there were any special species present. This resulted in this beautiful Oberthür’s Grizzled Skipper that can easily be confused with the Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius) and the Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae). The spots on the upper side of the forewing of the Oberthür’s Grizzled Skipper are slightly contrasting and show a disordered pattern. There are no stains along the back edge. On the upper side of the hindwing, there are always two rows of diffuse, brownish-gray spots that are usually conspicuous. The underside of the hindwing is greenish or brownish. The white median band is almost complete and has a very small and then a large almost round white spot near the inner edge of the wing. The Red-underwing Skipper and the Grizzled Skipper are usually slightly smaller. The Grizzled Skipper has a row of disordered, small gray spots along the trailing edge of the upper side of the forewing. The flight period is usually in two generations from May to the end of August and the wingspan is 24-28mm. Host plant: Silver or hoary cinquefoil. Dutch name: Bretons spikkeldikkopje. Frisian name: –
Flying period:
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Genus: Pyrgus
Grizzled Skipper – 2023 (DE)
(NCBI-index: 218760)
The upper side of the wings of the Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae) is dark brown with many sharply marked, white spots. There is a row of small, grey spots along the trailing edge of both the fore and hindwings. The most prominent feature is a sharp white square spot with a triangular incision on the upper side of the hindwing. The underside of the hindwing is yellow-green or red-brown with the large white spots standing in a row but not forming a continuous band. The light discal spot in cells c2 and c3 is reduced or even absent. The flight period is in one generation from May to early July and the wingspan is 20-24mm. Host plant: Agrimony and Creeping Cinquefoil. Dutch name: Aardbeivlinder. Frisian name: Ierdbeiflinter.
Flying period:
