Pyrginae, commonly known as spread-winged skippers, are a subfamily of the skipper butterfly family (Hesperiidae). The subfamily was established by Hermann Burmeister in 1878. Their delimitation and internal systematics has changed considerably in recent years with the most recent review being in 2019.
It still is the second-largest subfamily of skipper butterflies, although of its over 1,000 species a considerable number are no longer in that classification.
Description and distribution
thumb|left|220px|Typical resting positions
thumb|[[Pyrgus oileus from Florida (Pyrgini)]]
Spread-winged skippers bask with their wings held wide open. The wings are held closed when they are at rest. They are usually brown, black, or checkered, but some are brilliantly coloured. Some have long tailed hind wings.
Males maintain territories and frequently perch on overhanging branches and tree trunks. They do not visit flowers for sustenance, but rather drink fluids from dung, carrion, and rotting fruit.
- Carcharodini
- Achlyodidini
- Erynnini
- Pyrgini
Former tribes
- Celaenorrhinini - now placed within the subfamily Tagiadinae
- Eudamini - now placed within the subfamily Eudaminae
- Tagiadini - now placed within the subfamily Tagiadinae
- Pyrrhopygini - now placed within the subfamily Pyrrhopyginae
Footnotes
References
- (2003): Butterflies of the Carolinas. Adventure Publications, Inc., Cambridge, MN, USA. <small></small>.
Further reading
- Glassberg, Jeffrey Butterflies through Binoculars, The West (2001)
- Guppy, Crispin S. and Shepard, Jon H. Butterflies of British Columbia (2001)
- James, David G. and Nunnallee, David Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies (2011)
- Pelham, Jonathan Catalogue of the Butterflies of the United States and Canada (2008)
- Pyle, Robert Michael The Butterflies of Cascadia (2002)
External links
- Subfamily Pyrginae from Bugguide.net
- Cirrus Digital Imaging Reference photographs: Skippers of North America
- Butterflies and Moths of North America
- Butterflies of America