Silver-spotted Skipper
(Hesperia comma)
These active little butterflies are found on open chalk grassland containing a mixture of wild flowers and grasses. The caterpillars eat sheep's-fescue grass and tufted hair-grass. The butterflies feed on flowers growing low down, such as stemless and carline thistles, hawkbits and clovers.
Distribution maps of the Silver-spotted Skipper published at the end of the Second World War showed a clear outline of the Chilterns and North Downs. Today, the butterfly has contracted to isolated pockets along these chalky corridors. Its decline has been brought about by the loss of suitable habitats. Old chalk pastures have been ploughed up,new crops such as oil-seed rape have replaced fields of clover, and areas of grassland have been given over to forestry. The loss of rabbits from myxomatosis may have have resulted in other areas becoming overgrown with scrub.
Silver-spotted Skippers are easily confused with the large and sometimes Small Skipper which may be flying in the same area. The silver spots on the undersides are the main distinguishing features.
They are alert insects, and often rest with wings slanted backwards and antennae forwards, ready to chase off other insects.
© John Chapple
Taken on August 2, 2010
Ovum (Egg):
Videos:
Imago (Adult):
Copulation:
Oviposition (Egg Laying):
Laying on Grass © Dave Maunder
Laying on Grass
Larva (Caterpillar):
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