Skippers
A family of small, fast flying butterflies very moth-like in appearance. Stout bodies, broad heads and large, widely separated eyes adorned with hair tufts are distinctive features. Males are often distinguishable from females by the 'sex-brand', a dark line near the centre of each forewing, evident when viewed from above.
Large Skipper (Ochlodes venatus)
Large Skipper (Ochlodes venatus)

Large Skipper (Ochlodes venatus)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Genus: Ochlodes
Species: sylvanus

Key ID Features:
Rich, fulvous, chequered upperwings, the male having prominent black 'sex-brands'.
Underside is paler green and orange with faint row of yellow post-discal spots.

Seen in UK: June-August

This is one of the largest of our “golden” skippers and, like these other skippers, the male has a distinctive sex brand on its forewings containing specialised scent scales. Although this species forms discrete colonies, it is widespread and can be found in England and Wales as far north as Ayrshire in the west and North Northumberland in the east. This species is not found in Ireland or the Isle of Man, and is restricted to Jersey in the Channel Islands.

Text (c) UK Butterflies, used with permission
For more information click here

Photographer: Tim Tapley

Large Skipper (Ochlodes venatus)

Large Skipper (Ochlodes venatus)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Genus: Ochlodes
Species: sylvanus

Key ID Features:
Rich, fulvous, chequered upperwings, the male having prominent black 'sex-brands'.
Underside is paler green and orange with faint row of yellow post-discal spots.

Seen in UK: June-August

This is one of the largest of our “golden” skippers and, like these other skippers, the male has a distinctive sex brand on its forewings containing specialised scent scales. Although this species forms discrete colonies, it is widespread and can be found in England and Wales as far north as Ayrshire in the west and North Northumberland in the east. This species is not found in Ireland or the Isle of Man, and is restricted to Jersey in the Channel Islands.

Text (c) UK Butterflies, used with permission
For more information click here

Photographer: Tim Tapley