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Field guide · Denmark
Skippers · Denmark

Northern chequered skipper

Carterocephalus silvicola

Northern chequered skipper is rare in Denmark. Male: The forewings, which are gold-coloured, are detailed with several small black spots and a black edge. The flight period is short, from mid-May to well into June. The habitat is shaded forest and open forest paths.

Status in this countryRare in DenmarkCR (Critically endangered)
Northern chequered skipper

Flight period

The flight time is short, from mid-May to well into June. It typically peaks in the last days of May.

Habitat

Woodland clearings and open woodland tracks. The species prefers fairly tall vegetation.

Identifying features

The forewings, which are golden in colour, are detailed with several small black spots and a black border. The hindwings are light grey-light brown with both large and small gold spots.

Similar species

Northern chequered skipper cannot be confused with other Danish butterflies, due to its distinctive appearance. However, a similar relative, yellow-spotted broad-band, exists in neighbouring countries Norway, Sweden, and Germany.

Distribution

In Denmark northern chequered skipper is now known from only one site: Søholt Storskov on Lolland. Together with large blue, it shares the position as Denmark’s rarest resident butterfly.

Biology

Northern chequered skipper flies in sunshine in clearings and along forest roads in open deciduous woodland. It often basks on ferns or similar plants when not visiting flowers such as herb-robert and stitchwort.