Small Skipper
Thymelicus sylvestris
This record describes Thymelicus sylvestris (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This 'golden' Skipper is often found basking on vegetation, or making short buzzing flights among tall grass stems. Despite its name, the are four skipper species found in the British Isles that are either the same size or smaller than the Small Skipper. The male is distinguished from the female by the sex brand on its forewings, which is a slightly curved line of specialised scent scales. The Essex Skipper looks very similar but has completely black tips to its antennae. With the Small Skipper, the tips are black on the dorsal surface and orange underneath. A good view of this feature is needed to distinguish the two. The Large Skipper can easily be distinguished by the dark mottling on its wings. This species inhabits rough grassland, where tall grasses grow, and may occur on roadside verges, beside hedgerows, on overgrown downland, in woodland clearings and along woodland rides. Adults are on the wing in late June, through July and into August. It has just one generation per year. The main food plant is Yorkshire-fog, a common grass in the British Isles, although other grasses are also used. This butterfly is widespread in southern Britain, living in discrete colonies of both small and large populations.
Wikipedia reference for Thymelicus sylvestris: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thymelicus sylvestris.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Hesperiinae
- Tribe
- Hesperiini
- Genus
- Thymelicus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
This species inhabits rough grassland, where tall grasses grow, and may occur on roadside verges, beside hedgerows, on overgrown downland, in woodland clearings and along woodland rides.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are on the wing in late June, through July and into August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
It has just one generation per year. The main food plant is Yorkshire-fog, a common grass in the British Isles, although other grasses are also used.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This butterfly is widespread in southern Britain, living in discrete colonies of both small and large populations.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Thymelicus sylvestris. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Small Skipper (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Skipper
What is Small Skipper?
Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Small Skipper found?
Habitat: This species inhabits rough grassland, where tall grasses grow, and may occur on roadside verges, beside hedgerows, on overgrown downland, in woodland clearings and along woodland rides.
When is Small Skipper active?
Small Skipper: seasonal activity - Adults are on the wing in late June, through July and into August..
What is the life cycle of a Small Skipper?
It has just one generation per year. The main food plant is Yorkshire-fog, a common grass in the British Isles, although other grasses are also used.