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Field guide · Denmark
Skippers · Denmark

Silver-spotted skipper

Hesperia comma

Silver-spotted skipper is rare in Denmark. Wingspan: 24-32 mm. Flight season typically begins in the last week of July, peaking in the first week of August. Dry, sandy, and uncultivated open areas, such as heathlands, dunes, and grasslands.

Status in this countryRare in DenmarkNT (Near threatened)
Silver-spotted skipper

Flight period

Flight activity typically begins in the last week of July, and then peaks in the first week of August. The last surviving individuals disappear by the end of August and the beginning of September.

Habitat

Dry, sandy, and uncultivated open areas, such as heathlands, dunes, and grasslands. Apparently, silver-spotted skipper (on the Islands) could previously be found in several locations in peat bogs, which is also the case with Lille Vildmose in North Jutland.

Identifying features

Wingspan: 24-32 mm. The ground colour is ochre yellow to brown.

Similar species

Silver-spotted skipper can be easily confused with Large skipper, but is distinguished from it by the large and prominent white spots on the undersides of the wings. Furthermore, the males of silver-spotted skipper (unlike the males of Large skipper) have a narrow, elongated, and white scent scale patch in the center of the black comma-shaped spot on the upperside of the forewing.

Distribution

Silver-spotted skipper was formerly widespread on the Danish islands, with populations on Lolland, Falster, Møn, Funen, Bornholm and most of Zealand. However, it began disappearing rapidly from its eastern Danish sites as early as the beginning of the 20th century.

Biology

Silver-spotted skipper readily visits many kinds of flowers, including thistles and bird’s-foot trefoil. Field scabious is also particularly popular.