Small Skipper

Scientific Name - Thymelicus sylvestris

Flight Period - June to August

Overwinters as - Larva

Habitat - Grassland, woodland rides

Larval foodplants - Woodland False Brome, Cock’s-foot, Yorkshire Fog etc

Conservation status - Low priority

Northamptonshire distribution - Widespread

Best public sites to see them - Anywhere where there is suitable habitat

The Small Skipper is widespread in Northamptonshire and can be a common sight, especially in some of our grassland sites. They can often be confused with the other two golden Skippers. They can quite easily be told apart from the Large Skipper as the Small Skipper has a more uniform orange/brown colour across both the wings rather than the pale chequered markings seen in the Large Skipper. However, separating them from the Essex Skipper requires more study as the undersides of the antennae, and the scent brand in the males, are the only ways of confidently telling them apart in the field. In the Small Skipper, the undersides of the antennae are an orange or brown colour, whereas in the Essex Skipper, the undersides of the antennae are black. In the males there are slight differences in the scent brand too as in the Small Skipper it is longer and at a slight angle to the outer edge of the forewing. For more details about how to separate Large, Small and Essex Skippers click here. Small Skippers are widespread in Northamptonshire and can be seen in any location with suitable habitat. During hot periods recording Small Skippers can be tricky as they become very mobile. Often the best way of getting good views of them is by studying any nectar sources, especially tall Thistles, where they can pause for a brief moment before shooting off back into the grasses.

Small Skipper Distribution 2018 - 2022

Male Small Skipper with diagnostic scent mark

Small Skipper egg laying

Small Skipper showing the orange/brown undersides to the antennae

Small Skipper on a Pyramidal Orchid