Butterfly ID
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Field guide · Denmark
Skippers · Denmark

Large skipper

Ochlodes sylvanus

Large skipper is common in Denmark. The wingspan is 26-35 mm. The flight period is from May to August, while the larva can be found overwintering from September to April. Large skipper occurs everywhere in places with tall grass and abundant food plants for the adult butterfly.

Status in this countryCommon in DenmarkLC (Least concern)
Large skipper

Flight period

The flight period is from May to August, while the larva can be found overwintering from September to April.

Habitat

Large skipper occurs in areas with tall grasses and abundant quantities of food plants for the adult butterfly.

Identifying features

Wingspan is 26-35 mm. The upperside of the wings is ochre-brown, while the underside is yellow-buff.

Similar species

Large skipper can be confused with silver-spotted skipper, but this one has completely bright and very distinct white spots (marks) on the underside of the wing. Furthermore, the male of this species has a clear silvery spot, in the middle of the black tuft on the upper side of the forewing, which does not appear in the male of Large skipper.

Distribution

Denmark, except for Bornholm and a number of smaller islands.

Biology

Large skipper eagerly visits flowers such as thistles, knapweed and bird’s-foot trefoil. The male is quite territorial and attacks other males of its own species, other butterfly species and unrelated insects.