Some skippers from Queensland

[jeromebubu]

Hi everyone,

I made a trip last year in Australia (Cairns region) and I saw many skippers!
But their identification is not very easy, so your help will be greatly appreciated :)

#1, I was thinking about Suniana sunias...
#2-3-4: Telicota augias ?

[moloch]

Hello jeromebubu,

Skippers are a difficult group. I looked through the guide and your tentative identifications seem reasonable. Unfortunately, I also have a hard time with these so cannot provide the names with certainty.

Was the first skipper tiny? I have seen Suniana sunias before and these are very small skippers.

Are you aware of this site? I find it to be a useful reference.
http://www.purvision.com/butterflies/



Regards,

[jeromebubu]

Thanks for your reply Moloch,

yes, skippers are always difficult, whatever the continent apparently!
The first one was actually small (wingspan ~20-22mm). It is the underside of the forewing, with a well defined and separated orange postmedian band, that leads me to this ID; I don't know whether it is really a good character!
And for the Telicota, well... Telicota colon is very similar too! I excluded Cephrenes species because I can't see the sex-brand.
Thanks for the link, I didn't know that one!

[jeromebubu]

I try again with other species!
#5-6 (same specimen): I was thinking about (a female of) Neohesperilla croceus ?
#7-8 (same specimen) and 9: maybe Pelopidas lyelli ?

And Merry Christmas BTW :cheers: