Identifying features
Wingspan 25–30 mm. The upper sides of the wings are dark brown to brown-black, with dark or light amber-coloured, angular spots. The underside is yellowish-brown with large yellow spots. The male’s wings are more pointed, while the female’s hindbody is stronger.
Similar species
The closest species is Northern chequered skipper: chequered skipper is distinguished from its female by a series of very small, grey to grey-yellow spots on the upper side of the forewing, and by fewer large yellow spots on the upper side of the hindwing.
Distribution
Chequered skipper is found in Sweden primarily in the boreal forest belt from northern Värmland and northern Västmanland, up to 67° N, where it occurs as borealis around the northern part of the Gulf of Bothnia. It avoids the mountainous regions and the coast of Norrland.
Biology
The species has significant requirements for its habitat: sun-exposed and species-rich ground, particularly with forest moss, on moist to wet substrates, often in sloping terrain on calcareous moraine. The males maintain small territories on species-rich areas, and their flight is swift.