Grass skippers

With over 2,000 described species, this is the largest skipper butterfly subfamily and occurs worldwide except in New Zealand.^[6] About 50 percent of grass skippers live in the Neotropics.^[7] 137 species are native to North America. Around 38 species are native to Australia.^[8] Genera Ochlodes and Hesperia exist exclusively in the Holarctic.^[9]

They are usually orange, rust, or brown in colour and have pointed forewings.^[5] Many species have dark markings or black stigmas on their forewings.^[5] Most members of this subfamily have an oval antenna club with an apiculus on the tip, although Carterocephalus and Piruna do not.^[10] The antennae generally has a sharp bend.

Hesperiinae larvae feed on many different types of grasses and sedges and palms, though some species are limited.^[10][11]

Adults typically visit flowers and hold their wings together while feeding.^[5] Hesperiinae are unique in that they hold their wings partially open while resting, with the forewings and hindwings held at different angles. This is known as the "jet-plane position".^[12] Most male grass skippers perch to await females.^[10]

Adults are strong fliers; they move quickly and usually in a linear direction. Some of the species, however, do flutter and these species patrol for females rather than perch.^[10]

The following grass skippers are considered at risk.^[13]