Tuesday 16 July 2013

Skippers at Lullingstone

The photograph below shows a male Small (?) Skipper, Thymelicus sylvestris. I am pretty sure it is this species, partly due to the apparent orange underside to the antennal tip just I think visible on the far antenna in particular, and partly due to what seems to be a curve in the male sex mark, most clearly seen on the far front wing. These two species are a fascinating example of evolution at the species level, with this species preferring Yorkshire Fog as the principal larval food plant, while the Essex Skipper seems to like a range of grasses such as Cocksfoot, Creeping Soft grass, Timothy, etc., but appearing to avoid Yorkshire Fog.   
 


I checked on the nectar food plant (Creeping Thistle, Cirsium arvense - ouch!) and noted that the flower head smelt of honey.

This, on the other hand, is the Essex Skipper, Thymelicus lineola, with black under the antennal tips, and a finer, straighter sex-mark, although this cannot be seen in these photographs.



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