It was long known as Ochlodes venatus, but this is a Far Eastern relative. There is still some dispute whether this species should be considered a distinct species or included in O. venatus as a subspecies. Under ICZN rules the specific name, originally proposed as Papilio sylvanus, is invalid as a homonym (of the butterfly now called Anthene sylvanus), but it has been conserved by an ICZN commission decision in 2000.[1]
Distribution and habitat
This species occurs from Europe to the East Palearctic realm (northern Asia, China and Japan). In the British Isles it occurs in England, Wales, and south western Scotland.[2][3] It can be found anywhere where wild grasses are allowed to grow tall. Hedgerows, woodland clearings and edges are favourites.
Description
Ochlodes sylvanus has a wingspan of 28–32 mm, which is similar in size to Chequered skipper. Although called "large" this is still a relatively small butterfly and not much larger than either the small or Essex skippers. The body is rather squat. The antennae are hooked at their tips. The upperside of the wings is orange-brown with a brown border and some lighter spots. The underside of the hindwings is greenish-yellow, marked with sparse yellow spots. The male has a broad scented androconial dark line across the top of the forewings. On the hindwings of the females there are brighter square marks. When the wings are opened, the forewings are obliquely folded, masking the hindwings.
The faint chequered pattern on both the upperside and underside, and also the hook-shaped antenna tips, help to distinguish the large skipper from these two orange skippers. The Lulworth skipper also has patterned wings, but does not have the hooked antennae.
Figs 4, 4a, 4b larvae after last moult; 4c pupa;4d folded leaf of Luzula pilosa containing a pupa
The caterpillar can reach a length of 28 millimetres (1.1 in). It has a large blackish-brown head and a bluish green body, with a dark line down its back and a yellow stripe along each side.
Life cycle and foodplants
In northern Europe these butterflies have a single brood, but in the south they may have up to three broods.
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 caterpillar and emerges in the spring to continue feeding and growing.
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. It is an active butterfly in sunny weather, it is attracted to various flowers but has a distinct liking for bramble flowers.
^"Opinion 1944: Papilio sylvanus Esper, 1777 (currently known as Ochlodes sylvanus or O. venatus faunus; Insecta, Lepidoptera): specific name conserved". Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. 57 (1): 56. 2000.
Shreeve, T.G.; Emmet, A.M. (1990), OCHLODES VENATA (Bremer & Grey). Pages 64–67 in Emmet, A.M., J. Heath et al. (Eds.) The Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Vol. 7 Part 1 (Hesperiidae to Nymphalidae), Harley Books, Colchester, UK. 370p.
Jim Asher et al.The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies of Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ochlodes sylvanus.
UK Butterflies
Euro Butterflies
Large skipper page from Natural History Collections of the University of Edinburgh
Paolo Mazzei, Daniel Morel, Raniero Panfili Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa
large, skipper, large, skipper, ochlodes, sylvanus, butterfly, family, hesperiidae, male, with, androconial, dark, line, uppersidefemale, uppersidescientific, classificationkingdom, animaliaphylum, arthropodaclass, insectaorder, lepidopterafamily, hesperiidaeg. The large skipper Ochlodes sylvanus is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae Large skipperMale with androconial dark line UppersideFemale UppersideScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder LepidopteraFamily HesperiidaeGenus OchlodesSpecies O sylvanusBinomial nameOchlodes sylvanus Esper 1777 European part of rangeSynonymsList Papilio sylvanus Esper 1777Papilio melicerta Bergstrasser 1780Augiades venata faunus Turati 1905Ochlodes venatus faunus Turati 1905 Ochlodes alexandra Hemming 1934Ochlodes esperi Verity 1934 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Description 4 Life cycle and foodplants 5 Gallery 6 See also 7 Citations 8 References 9 External linksTaxonomy EditIt was long known as Ochlodes venatus but this is a Far Eastern relative There is still some dispute whether this species should be considered a distinct species or included in O venatus as a subspecies Under ICZN rules the specific name originally proposed as Papilio sylvanus is invalid as a homonym of the butterfly now called Anthene sylvanus but it has been conserved by an ICZN commission decision in 2000 1 Distribution and habitat EditThis species occurs from Europe to the East Palearctic realm northern Asia China and Japan In the British Isles it occurs in England Wales and south western Scotland 2 3 It can be found anywhere where wild grasses are allowed to grow tall Hedgerows woodland clearings and edges are favourites Description EditOchlodes sylvanus has a wingspan of 28 32 mm which is similar in size to Chequered skipper Although called large this is still a relatively small butterfly and not much larger than either the small or Essex skippers The body is rather squat The antennae are hooked at their tips The upperside of the wings is orange brown with a brown border and some lighter spots The underside of the hindwings is greenish yellow marked with sparse yellow spots The male has a broad scented androconial dark line across the top of the forewings On the hindwings of the females there are brighter square marks When the wings are opened the forewings are obliquely folded masking the hindwings The faint chequered pattern on both the upperside and underside and also the hook shaped antenna tips help to distinguish the large skipper from these two orange skippers The Lulworth skipper also has patterned wings but does not have the hooked antennae Figs 4 4a 4b larvae after last moult 4c pupa 4d folded leaf of Luzula pilosa containing a pupa The caterpillar can reach a length of 28 millimetres 1 1 in It has a large blackish brown head and a bluish green body with a dark line down its back and a yellow stripe along each side Life cycle and foodplants EditIn northern Europe these butterflies have a single brood but in the south they may have up to three broods Eggs are laid singly on the underside of foodplant leaves and hatch after about two weeks They are normally laid on cocksfoot 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 Larvae also feed on various Poaceae Phalaris arundinacea Alopecurus pratensis Calamagrostis purpurea Deschampsia flexuosa Phragmites communis and Elymus caninus 3 but also on Festuca Triticum Dactylis glomerata Molinia Holcus lanatus Luzula etc 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 caterpillar and emerges in the spring to continue feeding and growing 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 It is an active butterfly in sunny weather it is attracted to various flowers but has a distinct liking for bramble flowers Gallery Edit Caterpillar Male underside Aberrationno chequered marks MatingSee also EditList of butterflies of Great Britain List of butterflies in Sweden List of Lepidoptera of GermanyCitations Edit Opinion 1944 Papilio sylvanus Esper 1777 currently known as Ochlodes sylvanus or O venatus faunus Insecta Lepidoptera specific name conserved Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 57 1 56 2000 Fauna europaea a b FunetReferences EditShreeve T G Emmet A M 1990 OCHLODES VENATA Bremer amp Grey Pages 64 67 in Emmet A M J Heath et al Eds The Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and IrelandVol 7 Part 1 Hesperiidae to Nymphalidae Harley Books Colchester UK 370p Jim Asher et al The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies of Britain and Ireland Oxford University Press External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ochlodes sylvanus UK Butterflies Euro Butterflies Large skipper page from Natural History Collections of the University of Edinburgh Paolo Mazzei Daniel Morel Raniero Panfili Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa Lepiforum de Butterfly Conservation ArmeniaPortals Insects Arthropods Animals Biology Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Large skipper amp oldid 1133154391, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
