Large Chequered Skipper
Twin-spot Skipper ( Heteropterus morpheus )
The Twin-spot Skipper ( Heteropterus morpheus ) is a butterfly ( butterfly ) from the family of Skipper ( Hesperiidae ).
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 28-31 millimeters. The wing tops are dark brown in color, on the front edge of the forewing there are a few yellow spots. The hind wing underside is yellow and is distinguished by a characteristic pattern oval, black -rimmed bright shiny spots, which gave the name of the species.
Dissemination
The Twin-spot Skipper is widespread in northern Spain (Oviedo to San Sebastian ), France (Pyrenees, Atlantic Coast, Nièvre, Brittany, Somme ). Very locally is the kind to be found in the south of Belgium and the north of the Netherlands. In England it occurs only on the island of New Jersey in appearance. Further distribution areas are Denmark ( Lolland and Falster ), Sweden ( Skåne), Italy ( Lazio, Piedmont, Dolomites, Trieste ), Germany ( locally in North West Germany, East Germany ), Lithuania, Latvia, Czech Republic, Austria, northern Balkans, Bulgaria ( Primorsko ) and the European part of Turkey.
In the vertical distribution, the species is found in until 1,000 meters altitude.
Habitat
Oat grass and purple moor grass meadows, reedbeds, Saumstandorte, forest meadows, forest clearings.
Behavior
Very striking is the flight behavior of the moths that fly slowly with a few wing beats in wavy lines, while clearly show the specular hindwing undersides. The air picture is jumping, which is why the species is sometimes referred to as " Hüppeling ".
Way of life
The females lay eggs on the stems of herbivory plants. To the caterpillar food plants include:
- Marsh reed grass ( Calamagrostis canescens )
- Forest Zwenke ( Brachypodium sylvaticum )
- Purple moor grass ( Molinia caerulea)
- Reed (Phragmites australis)
The caterpillars build a tunnel from a grass leaf and eat it; in winter, the half-grown caterpillars.
Flight Times
It makes one generation per year, which flies from late June to July.