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Silver Spotted Skipper
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High Atlas,
Morocco,
July 2005 f.
benuncus from N Africa is striking. The underside white spots link
up. |
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Valais,
Switzerland, July 2005 |
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Silver
Spotted Skipper
Hesperia comma
Distribution: Most of Europe, sporadic in S Spain and S Italy. Absent
from most of northern Scandinavia and only present on chalk hills in S England
(although expanding rapidly over the past few years (2006). North Africa.
Identification: It resembles the other "Golden" Skippers but
is readily distinguished by the bright white spots on the underside usually on a
green ground colour. See also the
Identification Page for Golden
Skippers.
Flight time: Summer - July and August, worn in September.
Habitat: Hills and mountains over grassy flowery places. In the UK
(and perhaps elsewhere) strictly a calcareous butterfly but more generally any
open grassy place can be accepted. Often at high levels in the Alps, to over
2000m. Larvae take Festuca ovina.
Behaviour: As with most skippers it flies rapidly low over the ground.
Frequently visits flowers for nectar.
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Valais,
Switzerland, July 2005 |
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Valais,
Switzerland, July 2005 |
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Valais,
Switzerland, July 2004 |
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S Pyrenees,
Spain, August 2003
Female |
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S Pyrenees,
Spain, August 2003
Upperside of
butterfly above |
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Catalonia,
Spain, August 2003
Male showing
bold sex brand |
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Valais,
Switzerland, July 2003 |
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