Small Skipper butterfly
Thymelicus sylvestris
family - Hesperiidae (Skippers)
My personal observations of the Small Skipper butterfly
months seen in my garden: July
garden plants that attract this species: Hyssop, Helichrysum, Marigolds, Candytuft, Sweet William, Virginian Stock, Buddleia (list shared with Essex Skipper)
Butterfly sightings 2005:
Small Skipper sat
on Agrimony?, 31 July 2005
Small Skipper sat
on Knapweed, 31 July 2005 (I think it's a small...)
Slides from 2003:
On Tufted Vetch. Uley, Gloucestershire. July
12.
On Bird's Foot Trefoil. Golden Valley, Gloucestershire. July
8.
On Bird's Foot Trefoil. Golden Valley, Gloucestershire. July
8.
Hope I've got my identification correct, but please see Essex Skipper butterfly too
Reference Section
Size: 30mm (smaller than the Small White - see list of butterflies by size)
First Generation flight period: July-August
Note:
The difference between the Small Skipper and the Essex Skipper butterfly is determined by the color of the underside of the tip of the antennae.
Small Skipper: undersides of clubs of antennae are reddish-orange.
Essex Skipper: undersides of clubs of antennae are black.
Habitat: Grassland
Larval Food Plants: Grasses
Wild Nectar Plants: Clover, Knapweed
Family Group: Hesperiidae - see list of butterflies by family