The Butterflies of the World Foundation
A Non-
Variegated Skipper
Gorgythion begga, Möschler, 1877
Subfamily Pyrginae
Tribe Erynnini
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Gorgythion begga, Foetoenakaba village, Suriname, 29 May 2007 Ref #: I-
Taxonomy
The family Hesperiidae includes all butterflies that are collectively called skippers because of their fast skipping flight. This family is the sole member of the Superfamily Hesperioidea. Whereas, the other five families of butterflies belong to the Superfamily Papilionoidea. So, skippers are considered butterflies, but they have a few traits different than the species of “True” butterflies found in the Superfamily Papilionoidea. Some of these traits include large eyes, short antennae (often with hooked clubs) and stout bodies. Most also have a very rapid flight with a fast, almost blurred, wing beat. There are about 3,500 species of skippers and they’re further divided into seven subfamilies. They occur worldwide with more found in the tropics. Most species are brown or tan, but some tropical members can be quite colorful.
Gorgythion begga, Foetoenakaba village, Suriname, 29 May 2007 Ref #: I-
General Information:
Gorgythion begga belongs to the subfamily Pyrginae. This species has a huge range and is found from the Lower Rio Grande in Texas and south through all of Central America and all of South America. It occurs in a wide variety of disturbed habitats including forest clearings, roadsides, riverbanks and scrub.
Gorgythion begga, Foetoenakaba village, Suriname, 29 May 2007 Ref #: I-
Lifecycle:
The lifecycle of this species is not well known.