Description
a small butterfly with a low darting flight restricted to chalk downland in southern england. upperwings orange with brown margins and pale orange spots. males have a thick black line through the centre of the forewing. underwings have silver spots. this rare skipper is restricted to chalk downs in southern england where it can be seen darting low over short turf, stopping frequently to bask on bare ground or feed on flowers such as dwarf thistle. it can be distinguished by the numerous silver-white spots on the undersides of the hind wings, which can be seen quite easily when it rests with wings in a characteristic 'half-open' posture. the silver-spotted skipper has declined rapidly over the last 50 years but has re-expanded partially since 1980.
Habitat
Unimproved open chalk grasslands with short, patchy swards. Prefers warm, south-facing slopes.
Countries
Countries: England
Wing span range
0mm
