Giant Skippers

Giant Skippers
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Hesperioidea
Family:	Hesperiidae
Subfamily:	Megathyminae
Genera
Agathymus Megathymus Stallingsia

The Giant Skippers are butterflies in the disputed subfamily Megathyminae, which is part of the skipper family. Some authorities treat this as a distinct and separate subfamily, but more modern classifications tend to place them within the subfamily Hesperiinae. However, some works, such as the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, still treat is as a valid subfamily.^[1] The giant skippers include two tribes, Aegialini and Megathymini.^[1] There are three genera and about eighteen species in this subfamily.^[2][3][4] These butterflies typically live in the southwest United States and Mexico in desert areas.^[2]

The giant skippers are larger than the other members of the family Hesperiidae, but are medium-sized butterflies with thick bodies.^[5] They tend to be brown with yellow markings. The antennae are unhooked and some species even possess a short apiculus.^[2] Long hairlike scales are present on the upperwings of males.^[2] Their flight is fast and rapid.^[5] Males are territorial and tend to perch on low vegetation.^[5] Adults do not derive sustenance from flowers and rarely feed.^[2][5] Males do visit wet sand in order to drink.^[2]

The eggs of members of the genera Megathymus and Stallingsia are glued to leaves, while the eggs of Agathymus are dumped into host plant clumps.^[2] The caterpillars of the giant skippers bury themselves into the leaf or stem of a plant and feed from within the silk-lined tunnels they create. Pupae are formed in these tunnels.^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "ITIS Standard Report Page: Megathyminae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=694077. Retrieved 2009-04-29. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} "Subfamily: Giant-Skippers". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Montana State University. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/taxonomy?s=64&sci=Megathyminae&com=Giant-Skippers. Retrieved 2009-04-29. 
3. ^ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Aegialini". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=694156. Retrieved 2009-04-29. 
4. ^ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Megathymini". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=694271. Retrieved 2009-04-29. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d} Daniels, Jaret C. (2003). Butterflies of the Carolinas. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications, Inc.. pp. 9. ISBN 1-59193-007-3.