There are about 4,000 species of small to medium sized butterflies in this family. The ends of their clubbed antennae hook backwards. Most species have a large, thick thorax and small wings. They get the name skippers from their flight pattern. They tend to skip from place to place with very fast wing movement! Skippers are usually duller in color than most species of butterfly. Most skippers are brown or gray and are often confused with moths. When they are at rest, the species in this family rests their wings on their back like moths and not vertically like most species of butterflies. But like other butterfly species, they have clubbed antennae and they are active during the day! The larvae of skippers and darters usually feed at night. They eat a variety of grasses and leaves. There are around 300 species of skippers found in North America.
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Endangered in N.H.
Threatened in N.H.
Introduced
Endangered in U.S.
Threatened in U.S.