Sussex Butterfly Conservation : Species

Butterfly Species in Sussex

Male Small Skipper on Birdsfoot Trefoil – photo by Martin Kalaher

Small Skipper

Thymelicus sylvestris

Description

This species is found on rough, uncultivated grasslands, where it is often common, sometimes very common and occasionally abundant. Its preferred larval foodplant is Yorkshire-fog and since this grass species grows more-or-less everywhere in Sussex, it is unsurprising that this diminutive skipper is very widely distributed throughout the county.

The meadow skippers can be difficult to separate, as they are all small golden-brown butterflies with a similar shape; a thick-set body, blunt head and short triangular wings. However, the male Small Skipper is distinctive, for it has a long, wiggly sex-brand that crosses the wing veins, and this is an ID feature that can be seen “naked eye”. Differentiating between Small and Essex Skipper is tricky but with good-quality photographs and with care and patience, it can be done!

Small Skippers have a single brood and for 2006-2024 the “average first sighting” was June 18th (range, June 10th to June 26th), with peak numbers usually recorded in mid-to-late July. For 2006-2024, the “average last sighting” was August 19th which ties in with our butterfly surveys, as it is a species which is rather difficult to find, much beyond mid-August.
Although Yorkshire-fog is the preferred larval foodplant, other grass species such as False Brome, Cocksfoot, Meadow Foxtail, Timothy and Creeping Soft-grass are occasionally used.

Colonies of Small Skippers can be spectacularly large as at Lancing Ring in 2005 when “there were hundreds and probably thousands”, and at Chantry Hill on 18/07/2016 when there was a count of 3-4,000.

Where to find

Wherever there are patches of rough, uncultivated grasslands, but for large numbers try Chantry Hill at TQ0812, Fairmile Bottom LNR at SU988093, Friston Forest Gallops at TV553997, Heyshott Escarpment at SU899168 and Windover Hill from TQ532032 to TQ543033.