Hesperia, the branded skippers, is a Holarcticgenus in the skippers (Hesperiidae) butterfly family. Most species are endemic to North America, Hesperia comma is widespread throughout the region. H. florinda is endemic to temperate eastern Asia. H. nabokovi is endemic to Hispaniola.
Presumably, Johan Christian Fabricius named the genus for Hesperia, one of the Hesperides.
Species
The following species are recognised in the genus Hesperia:[1]
Hesperia ottoe W. H. Edwards, 1866 – Ottoe skipper
Hesperia pahaska Luessler, 1938 – Pahaska skipper
Hesperia sassacus Harris, 1862 – Indian skipper
Hesperia uncas W. H. Edwards, 1863 – Uncas skipper
Hesperia viridis (W. H. Edwards, 1883) – green skipper – Mexico, New Mexico
Hesperia woodgatei (R. C. Williams, 1914) – Apache skipper – Arizona, New Mexico, South Texas, North Mexico
Former species
Many species originally described in the genus Hesperia have now been reclassified. For a list of selected former species see List of former species in the genus Hesperia.