|
|
|
Ochlodes sylvanus
 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Large Skipper male and female / Ochlodes sylvanus male and female / Groot dikkopje man en vrouw /Rostfarbiger Dickkopffalter oder Ockergelber Dickkopffalter Männchen und weibchen / La Sylvaine mâle et femelle.
The Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It was long known as Ochlodes venata, but this is a Far Eastern relative which does not occur in Europe.
There is some dispute whether this species should be correctly named O. sylvanus (Esper) or O. venata faunus (Turanti).
This butterfly's range extends throughout Europe to northern Asia, China and Japan. In the British Isles it occurs in England, Wales, and south western Scotland. Although called 'Large' this is still a relatively small butterfly and not much larger than either the Small or Essex Skippers. The faint chequered pattern on both the upperside and underside help to distinguish the Large Skipper from these two orange Skippers. It can be found anywhere where wild grasses are allowed to grow tall. Hedgerows, woodland clearings and edges are favourites. An active little butterfly in sunny weather it is attracted to various flowers but has a distinct liking for Bramble flowers
Eggs are laid singly on the underside of foodplant leaves and hatch after about two weeks. They are normally laid on Cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata but they will occasionally use Purple Moor-grass Molinia caerulea, False Brome Brachypodium sylvaticum, Tor-grass B. pinnatum and Wood Small-reed Calamagrostis epigejos. On hatching the larvae construct a shelter in the usual skipper method of curling a leaf up with silk and begins to feed. It hibernates as a half grown larvae and emerges in the spring to continue feeding and growing. The caterpillar has a large blackish-brown head with a dark line down its back and a yellow stripe along each side. Pupation lasts about three weeks during May and June and the adults are present from June to August. It is the first of the 'grass skippers' to emerge in the UK. In northern Europe the butterflies have a single brood, but in the south they may have up to three broods.
Source;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Skipper
Harm |
Matt-Bird, haraprasan, phlr has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
|
|
| Discussions |
| None | | You must be logged in to start a discussion. |
|
Witaj Harm,
Great composition. These are fast spinnakers. Beautiful colours. Wonderful sharpness. Good details. Instructive description.
I am congratulating - Roma
Hi Harm,
Nice photo, sharp and clear a nice couple of skippers.
regards
Matt.
Hi Harm,
A lovely capture. Two beautiful skipper butterflies. Very composition, colors and details. Thanks a lot for sharing.
- manyee
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3119 W: 236 N: 5954]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(20104) - [2007-06-28 22:14]
-
Hello Harm,
I love the details you were able to capture on these two skippers.
Their colors are so rich and contrast beautifully with the green leaves.
They were cooperative and gave you a full fledge view of their interesting wing configurations.
Beautiful light.
TFS. ; )
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 182 W: 3 N: 164]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(1647)![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 336 W: 32 N: 407]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(1926)