Skipper Butterfly - Potanthus - Animal India

Potanthus is a large genus of the Hesperiidae family, also known as skipper butterflies. They are commonly referred to as darts and are predominantly found in Asia. The genus comprises about 35 species, all of which appear very similar and are often only reliably identifiable through the examination of the male genitalia. As a result, they cannot be easily identified based on external traits, such as wing patterns. In India, there are 19 species of Potanthus. When sitting, this butterfly orients its wings towards the sun, and the wing splits often make it resemble a fighter jet parked at an air base. A skipper butterfly was observed sitting on the leaves in a forest at Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on March 20, 2024. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)