Small Skipper
Brown Kolbiger Brown - Skipper ( Thymelicus sylvestris)
The bulbous brown or ocher yellow brown Dickkopffalter ( Thymelicus sylvestris) is a butterfly of the family of Skipper ( Hesperiidae ).
- 3.1 Flight times and caterpillars
- 3.2 food of the caterpillars
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The moths reach a wingspan 27-34 mm. They have light orange brown colored upper wing, the wing veins are rich in contrast recognizable. The edge of the wing is dark brown. The wing underside is greenish - gray at the top of the front wing and almost the entire surface of the hind wing. On the underside of the hind wings of the inner rim is lined with wide yellow. The undersides of the sensor piston are in contrast to the similar Black - Brown Kolbiger Dickkopffalter ( Thymelicus lineola ) yellow-brown. The dark spot scent scales of the male is narrow, but clearly visible.
The caterpillars are 20 to 25 millimeters long. They have a whitish- green colored body, with several bright line at the head capsule is green.
Similar Species
- Black Kolbiger Brown - Skipper ( Thymelicus lineola )
- Mattscheckiger Brown - Skipper ( Thymelicus Acteon )
Occurrence
The animals are found in North Africa and much of Europe. However, they are missing in the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia and Crete, as well as in the north of the British Isles and in the far north of Scandinavia. In the vertical distribution you will find the butterfly from the lowlands up to about 1900 meters, in North Africa and up to 2,600 meters above sea level. They are found in flowery glades and thickets with tall grasses, as well as in forest and roadsides, embankments, hemming dry grasslands and railway embankments. There is a close bond to fringe structures, in contrast to Mattscheckigen brown Dickkopffalter but fresher locations are preferred. The moths are sometimes found in large numbers.
Way of life
The animals like to sit on Knapweed (Centaurea ) and suck nectar. The males very active and defend territories against other butterflies. The females, however, are quiet.
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly in one generation from late June to August. The caterpillars are found from September and after hibernation until May.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed on various grasses, including honey of woolly grass ( Holcus lanatus ), Soft Honey grass ( Holcus mollis ), timothy grass ( Phleum pratense) and forest - Zwenke ( Brachypodium sylvaticum ).
Development
The females lay their yellowish- green, oval eggs in groups of 20 to 40 pieces of the leaf sheaths scrawny grass stems from. Before the plants are 10 to 15 minutes, closely examined. After about 16 to 23 days hatch the caterpillars eat the egg membrane and spin a egg cocoon to overwinter in this at the food plant. It was not until the following spring they begin to feed on the forage plants. They weave together the long sides of the blades of grass and live as a loner protected in the inside. Only when they are slightly larger, they also eat outside. Pupation takes place in a loose weave between blades of grass.
The doll is colored 16 to 20 millimeters long and pale green. At her one can help but at Thymelicus lineola recognize the outstanding proboscis sheath well. After 12 to 18 days, the moths hatch.