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Small Skipper

Thymelicus sylvestris

1 photo

1 photographer

·Common · 1 pts

Golden-orange skipper of tall grasses.

1 community photo of Small Skipper on Things With Wings. Top-rated shots often use around 1/640ss shutter, 300mm.

Species Profile

Green List (common and widespread in suitable habitat)

Lifespan: Approximately 2–3 weeks as an adult butterfly; larvae overwinter and develop over several months
Size & Weight: Wingspan 26–30 mm; small and delicate
Habitat: Sunny, sheltered grassland habitats including chalk and limestone grasslands, meadows, woodland edges, and roadside verges where grasses are abundant
UK Distribution: Found throughout southern and central England, Wales, and parts of southern Scotland; absent from northern Scotland and Ireland. Resident species; does not migrate
Diet: Adults feed on nectar from wildflowers such as bird's-foot trefoil, marjoram, and thistles; larvae feed exclusively on various grass species, particularly red fescue and cocksfoot
Predators: Small birds, spiders, robber flies, and parasitic wasps; also vulnerable to ground predators when roosting
Mating Season: June to August, with peak activity in July
Breeding: Females lay single eggs on grass blades; larvae develop through five instars, overwintering as partially grown larvae; single generation per year
Behaviour: Males perch on grass stems and fly out to intercept passing females in characteristic skipping flight patterns. They are strongly territorial and return to favoured perches repeatedly. Adults are weak fliers compared to other butterflies and rarely venture far from breeding habitat.

Did You Know?

•The 'skipper' name derives from their characteristically jerky, skipping flight pattern which is distinct from other butterfly species
•Males have two distinctive black marks on their forewings, known as sex brands, which are scent organs used in courtship
•Larvae feed gregariously when young, living together in rolled grass shelters before becoming solitary
•The Small Skipper is the most abundant skipper species in the UK and is often the first skipper to emerge each summer
•Despite their short adult lifespan, the species is long-lived overall due to the extended larval overwintering period lasting 8–9 months

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Shutter

1/640ss

ISO Range

1600

Aperture

f/f/18

Focal Length

300mm

🦋 Small Skipper

Butterfly