Chequered Skipper
Encyclopedia
The Chequered Skipper or Arctic Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon), is a butterfly
of the Hesperiidae family.
This butterfly has a wingspan of 29 to 31 mm. The uppersides are a dark brown with a dusting of orange scales at the base of the wings and golden spots, giving it its English name of Chequered Skipper. The basic pattern on the underside is similar but the forewings are orange with dark spots, and the hindwings are russet with cream spots rimmed in black. The sexes are similar although females are generally slightly larger.
although not found in Italy
, Portugal
, Ireland
, Denmark
and only found very locally in Spain
, the UK and Greece
. Its range extends across Asia
and Japan
and also into North America
(where it is known as the Arctic Skipper), across southern Canada
and the parts of northern United States
including New England
, the Great Lakes
area and the northwestern States, as far south as northern California
.
It is generally considered a woodland butterfly and breeds in and around damp woodland, favouring clearings and woodland paths and seems to have a particular attraction to blue woodland flowers.
since 1976 but has stable populations in western Scotland
. Attempts to reintroduce the butterfly to England were started in the 1990s. It was previously quite widespread in the midlands of England with isolated populations as far afield as Devon
and Hampshire
. It is thought that the cessation of coppicing
in English woodlands is the main cause of its extinction. It was only discovered in Scotland in 1939 where it is found grassland on the edges of open broad-leaved woodland.
(Molinia caerulea). In England most foodplant records were on False Brome
(Brachypodium sylvaticum) but it may have used Bromus
spp. as it does in continental Europe. In the USA, Purple Reedgrass
(Calamagrostis purpurascens) is a noted foodplant. They are laid in June or July and take about 10 days to hatch. On hatching the larva
e make shelters from rolled grass blades tied with silk from where they emerge at night to feed. In the autumn they construct a hibernaculum
by drawing together several blades and the fully grown larvae spend the winter here. Before hibernation they are a pale green, after hibernation they are a pale beige. Upon waking the following spring they make no attempt to feed and will rest on a blade of grass for up to a week before pupating. The pupa
e are a pale buff colour with dark lines running along the length and are well camouflaged. About five or six weeks later the adult emerges and can be seen on the wing between May and July depending on the latitude (later further north). A very active butterfly, it needs a lot of nectar and sunshine. However, they are less strictly diurnal than other skippers. Although preferentially flying from the late morning to dusk, they may be found before dawn and some time after dusk too (Fullard & Napoleone 2001).
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
of the Hesperiidae family.
Description
Distribution
It is widely distributed in northern and central EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
although not found in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and only found very locally in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, the UK and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Its range extends across Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and also into North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
(where it is known as the Arctic Skipper), across southern Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the parts of northern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
including New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
area and the northwestern States, as far south as northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
It is generally considered a woodland butterfly and breeds in and around damp woodland, favouring clearings and woodland paths and seems to have a particular attraction to blue woodland flowers.
British population
The Chequered Skipper has been extinct in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
since 1976 but has stable populations in western Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Attempts to reintroduce the butterfly to England were started in the 1990s. It was previously quite widespread in the midlands of England with isolated populations as far afield as Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. It is thought that the cessation of coppicing
Coppicing
Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management which takes advantage of the fact that many trees make new growth from the stump or roots if cut down. In a coppiced wood, young tree stems are repeatedly cut down to near ground level...
in English woodlands is the main cause of its extinction. It was only discovered in Scotland in 1939 where it is found grassland on the edges of open broad-leaved woodland.
Life cycle
The eggs are laid singly on tussocks of grasses. In Scotland most eggs are laid on Purple Moor GrassPurple Moor Grass
Molinia caerulea is a perennial grass native to Europe, west Asia, and north Africa. It grows in locations from the lowlands up to 2,300 m in the Alps. Like most grasses, it grows best in acid soils, ideally pH values of between 3.5 and 5, however, it can continue to live under more extreme...
(Molinia caerulea). In England most foodplant records were on False Brome
False Brome
-Introduction:False Brome, Slender False Brome or Wood False Brome, Brachypodium sylvaticum, is a perennial grass native to Europe, Asia and north Africa....
(Brachypodium sylvaticum) but it may have used Bromus
Bromus
Bromus is a large genus of the grass family . Estimates in the scientific literature of the number of species have ranged from 100 to 400, but plant taxonomists currently recognize around 160–170 species...
spp. as it does in continental Europe. In the USA, Purple Reedgrass
Purple Reedgrass
Calamagrostis purpurascens, variously known by the common names Purple Reedgrass, Purple Pinegrass, or Alpine Reedgrass is a perennial grass, growing 30 to 70 cm tall.-Distribution:...
(Calamagrostis purpurascens) is a noted foodplant. They are laid in June or July and take about 10 days to hatch. On hatching the larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e make shelters from rolled grass blades tied with silk from where they emerge at night to feed. In the autumn they construct a hibernaculum
Hibernaculum
Hibernaculum can refer to:* Hibernaculum , the location chosen by an animal for hibernation...
by drawing together several blades and the fully grown larvae spend the winter here. Before hibernation they are a pale green, after hibernation they are a pale beige. Upon waking the following spring they make no attempt to feed and will rest on a blade of grass for up to a week before pupating. The pupa
Pupa
A pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago...
e are a pale buff colour with dark lines running along the length and are well camouflaged. About five or six weeks later the adult emerges and can be seen on the wing between May and July depending on the latitude (later further north). A very active butterfly, it needs a lot of nectar and sunshine. However, they are less strictly diurnal than other skippers. Although preferentially flying from the late morning to dusk, they may be found before dawn and some time after dusk too (Fullard & Napoleone 2001).
External links
- Chequered Skipper page from the Butterfly Conservation.
- Chequered Skipper page from UK Butterflies.
- Chequered Skipper page from Sunart Oak Woods, Scotland.
- Chequered Skipper page from Scottish Natural Heritage.
- ARKive - images of life on earth, chequered skipper
- Butterflies and Moths of North America page including a United States distribution map.
- Chequered Skipper page from greennature.com..
- Digital Atlas of Idaho Arctic Skipper page.