|
Thymelicus sylvestris / Small Skipper
Okërverdha shiritzi
Hesperiidae - Hesperiinae
Thymelicus lineola (Poda, 1761). TL: Graz, Austria.
 
 
 
1a. Thymelicus sylvestris, distribution map.  Historical data ;  Additional data from the 2018 update ;  New observations since the 2018 update.
1b. Thymelicus sylvestris ♂ orange antennal tip. Greece (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1c. Thymelicus sylvestris ♂ upperside. Albania (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1d. Thymelicus sylvestris ♂ visible sex brand. Albania (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1e. Thymelicus sylvestris ♀ underside. Greece (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1f. Thymelicus sylvestris ♀ upperside. Greece (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1g. Thymelicus sylvestris ♂ lateral. Albania (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
Description
♂♂
Small butterfly. Fw: 13-15 mm.
Ups: fulvous gc, conspicuous sex-brand reaching v3 (fresh specimens)
Uns: fulvous gc.
Tip of the antennae: fulvous beneath.
♀♀
Slightly larger than ♂♂.
Ups and uns very similar except sex-brand.
Tip of the antennae: fulvous beneath.
Similar species
Thymelicus acteon
Slightly smaller Thymelicus.
Ups:
gc dusky fulvous.
Upf:
Yellow streak in cell and a b
Bowded series of small yellow palid spots in s3-9.
Unf:
Paler streak in cell.
Bowded series of small yellow palid spots in s3-9.
Thymelicus lineola
Antennal tip:
Black.
Upf: ♂ shorter sexbrand (fresh specimens)
|
  |
Life cycle
Adults: single generation from May to August, long life span.
Egg: stage of 15-33 days.
Caterpillar: young larva overwinters in a silky cocoon together with other caterpillars from the same egg batch. After winter, feeding for about 10 weeks.
Pupa: 12-22 day.
Habitat
Thymelicus sylvestris inhabits flowery meadows and grassy banks, as well in open area as in clearings, glades and forest edges from lowland up to 2.000 m a.s.l.
Spatial requirement modest, population density high.
Foodplants
Caterpillars feed on Carex acutiformis, Agrostis capillaris, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sp., Bromus sp., Calamagrostis epigejos, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Elymus repens, Festuca ovina, Holcus sp., Lolium sp., Phleum pratense, and Poa sp.
Butterflies feed on a large variety of flowers.
Distribution
Albania: widespread.
Balkan: AL - BG - BIH - GR - HR - NMK - MNE - RKS - RO - SLO - SRB
Europe: IB - IT - ALP - BAL - NWE - UK - SCA* - EEU
S.W. Asia.
Conservation status
Thymelicus sylvestris is not endangered.
Albanian Red List: NE.
IUCN Red List, category at the Mediterranean level: LC.
Useful links
Bink 2015
Pyrgus.de
Lepiforum
Euroleps
|
xx
xx 
