Large Skipper butterfly
Ochlodes venata
family - Hesperiidae (Skippers)
The Large Skipper is a small brown butterfly with orange-brown markings on the upperside of the wings. It rests with forewings held above hindwings and is consequently easily mistaken for a moth.
My personal observations of the Large Skipper butterfly
seen in my garden: late June to early July
garden plants that attract this species: Candytuft, Sweet William, Verbena, Virginian Stock
Butterfly sightings 2005:
Large Skipper on
Knapweed, 26 June
Large Skipper,
16 July
Large Skipper on
Verbena bonariensis, 16 July
Large Skipper on
Betony? in Overley Wood, 31 July
Large Skipper on
Clover in Overley Wood, 31 July
Large Skipper on Thistle, Cirencester Park, 20 August
Butterfly sightings 2004:
Large Skipper on Sweet William,
18 June
Large Skipper on Lobelia,
19 June
Large Skipper, 19 June
Large Skipper on Sweet William,
25 June
Large Skipper, 1 July
Large Skipper on Knapweed,
1 July
Large Skipper, 1 July
Large Skipper on Bramble,
1 July
Large Skipper on Bramble,
1 July
Images:
Resting on Nettle along farm track behind my house. 6
July 2002.
On Sweet William. 25 June 2002.
On Virginian Stock. 25 June
2002.
On Virginian Stock. 25 June
2002.
On Viper's Bugloss at Crickley Hill, Gloucestershire. 16
July 2001.
Resting on Achillea in my Wiltshire garden. 8
July 1999.
In my Wiltshire garden. 3 July
1999.
observations:
Distinguished from the other common skipper visitors to the garden (Small and Essex Skippers) by the mottled colouring of the wings; the Small & Essex Skippers have 'plain' wings. Large Skippers arrive in the garden a couple of weeks ahead of Small or Essex Skippers.
Reference Section
Size: 33mm (smaller than the Small White - see list of butterflies by size)
First Generation flight period: June-August
Larval Food Plants: Grasses
Wild Nectar Plants: Knapweed, Nettle, Viper's bugloss
Family Group: Hesperiidae - see list of butterflies by family