Hesperiidae (redirected from Skipper (butterfly))

Hesperiidae [hes·pə′rī·ə‚dē]

(invertebrate zoology)

The single family of the superfamily Hesperioidea comprising butterflies known as skippers because of their rapid, erratic flight.

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Hesperiidae 

a family of butterflies. The body is stout and has short wings that are held erect when the insect is at rest. There is a downy crest between the antennae, which end in oblong clubs. The coloring ranges from ocher to black; there usually are dark or light spots on the wings. When in flight, the Hesperiidae resemble moths, as they do not flutter about. There are approximately 3,500 species of Hesperiidae, of which more than 70 are found in the USSR. The most common representatives are Pyrgus malvae, the caterpillar of which develops on herbaceous plants of the family Rosaceae, and Hesperia comma and Adopaea lineóla, the caterpillars of which develop on cereals.