<< Previous Next >>

Thymelicus sylvestris


Thymelicus sylvestris
Photo Information
Copyright: Roberto Innocenzi (cobra112) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 572 W: 9 N: 1157] (6334)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-19
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D40X
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-07-02 13:35
Viewed: 309
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Order: Lepidoptera

Superfamily: Hesperioidea

Family: Hesperiidae

Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Genus: Thymelicus

Species: T. sylvestris

The Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris butterfly of the Hesperiidae family.It has a rusty orange colour to the wings, upper body and the tips of the antennae. The body is silvery white below and it has a wingspan of 25 -30 mm. This butterfly is very similar in appearance to the Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola. In the Small Skipper, the undersides of the tips of the antennae are yellow orange, whereas they are black in the Essex Skipper. The black area on the lower edge of the upper wings also differs. Like the other orange 'grass skippers' the male has a distinctive black stripe made up of scent scales. This butterfly's range includes southern Britain, much of Europe, north Africa and the Middle East, typically occurring where grass has grown tall.Eggs are laid loosely inside grass sheathes of the caterpillars foodplants from July to August. The newly hatched caterpillars eat their own eggshell before entering hibernation individually in a protective cocoon of a grass sheath sealed with silk. In the spring the caterpiller begins feeding. The favoured food plant is Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus, although other recorded foodplants include Timothy Phleum pratense, Creeping Soft Grass Holcus mollis, False Brome Brachypodium sylvaticum, Meadow Foxtail Alopecurus pratensis and Cock's foot Dactylis glomerata. The caterpillars pupate near the base of the foodplant in June with the first adults on the wing at the end of June, a week or two before the first Essex Skippers.They are strongly attracted to purple flowers such as Thistles and Knapweeds.
jconceicao, maurydv, jlinaresp, nasokoun, nglen, Noisette has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Olá Roberto,

Excellent picture.
Natural colours with fantastic details.
Light,focus and definition are splendid.
Good note.

Ciao Roberto
bellissima macro di questo Esperiide in una classica posa in pieno sole, ottima definizione, colori caldi e ben saturati, la composizione č un classico con lo sviluppo sulla diagonale dello stelo d'erba, secondo me nella parte superiore la farfalla č un po' chiusa, l'ideale sarebbe stato che, con questo decentramento, avesse le antenne sulla diagonale e automaticamente avrebbe avuto piů spazio davanti.
Grazie e complimenti
Ciao Maurizio

Ciao Roberto,

Buon colore e dettaglio. L'equilibrio della composizione sono comuni, ma molto suggestivo e di successo. Ottimo ambiente e verde sfocatura.

Roberto, buon lavoro,

ottimo risultato!

Jesús

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3800 W: 190 N: 11298] (34839)
  • [2009-07-02 22:04]

Ciao Roberto,
A fine capture of a male Ochlodes sylvanus taken from a great POV on the blade of grass with fantastic sharpness and colours.
Thanks and have a good weekend,
Ivan

hello Roberto
the beauty through the simplicity, splendid composition and photo
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos

Ciao Roberto, altra splendida macro, a livello compositivo io avrei croppato la parte posteriore, magnifici colori e ottimi dettagli, splendida nitidezza, bravo, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2900 W: 34 N: 8586] (32012)
  • [2009-07-03 12:03]

Hi Roberto. You have taken a fine close up of the Small Skipper.
Which you have taken with fine detail and rich colours. I like the top view looking down ontothe Butterfly so we can see all of the wing andbody markings. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hello Roberto
You have taken a very good shot of this Small skipper, excellent composition
sharpness, colors and POV are superbe, nice pose on this grass
very well done and have a good night
Jacqueline

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF