Spathilepia
Butler, 1870
Falcate Skipper
Species Guides
1- Spathilepia clonius(Falcate Skipper)
Spathilepia is a of skippers in the Hesperiidae, Eudaminae. The sole , Spathilepia clonius, is known as the Falcate Skipper. The genus was established by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1870. It is distributed from the southern United States through Central America and into South America.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Spathilepia: /ˌspæθɪˈliːpiə/
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Identification
The single S. clonius can be identified by its falcate (sickle-shaped) forewing apex, which gives the species its . The is , so identification to genus level is equivalent to species identification. Within Eudaminae, the distinctive wing shape separates it from related genera such as Epargyreus and Urbanus.
Images
Distribution
Texas (United States), Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina.
Similar Taxa
- EpargyreusSimilar Eudaminae skipper with more rounded forewing apex; lacks the pronounced falcate tip of Spathilepia
- UrbanusEudaminae with elongated wings but without the sickle-shaped forewing tip characteristic of Spathilepia
More Details
Monotypy
The Spathilepia contains only a single , S. clonius, making it one of the few genera in the species-rich Hesperiidae.