Skippers being diurnal, they are generally called butterflies although they are placed in a separate superfamily. They are named for their quick, darting flight habits. Most have the antenna tip modified into a narrow hook like projection.

The members of the Papilionoidea may be distinguished by the following combination of characters:The body is smaller and less moth-like.The wings are larger.The antennae are straight and clubbed (rather than hooked as in the skippers).The caterpillars do not spin cocoons to pupate.The pupae are angular rather than rounded.