Identifying features
Wingspan 25–32 mm. The wings are brownish-yellow, with angular, lighter yellow to yellowish-white spots, and a darker brown colour along the edges. The male has a long, distinctive black scent scale pattern with a white central stripe. In the mountainous regions, the subspecies catena occurs, which is smaller and has a darker green underside and black-edged silver-white spots.
Similar species
The species differs clearly from Large skipper through its distinctly greenish-yellow underside with numerous white spots.
Distribution
Silver-spotted skipper was previously found throughout the entire area of Sweden, from Skåne to Torne Lappmark. However, since the 1950s, the known areas of occurrence have decreased. The subspecies fjällsilversmygare (with a two-year development cycle) is widespread from Jotunheimen to the Barents Sea and occurs in the Swedish mountain range from Härjedalen northward.
Biology
The species is found in open terrain on dry meadows with short grasses, preferably in rocky terrain along the coast and in inland areas, mainly on sand plains and in gravel pits. The butterflies are very fast flyers but locally loyal, often visiting flowers, and the males use high thistles as observation points.