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Silver Spotted Skipper
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Valais,
Switzerland, July 2007 |
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High Atlas, Morocco, July 2005 f. benuncus from N Africa is striking. The underside white spots link up. |
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Valais, Switzerland, July 2005 |
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Silver
Spotted Skipper Distribution: Most of Europe, sporadic in S Spain and S Italy. Absent from most of northern Scandinavia and only present on chalk hills in S England (although expanding rapidly over the past few years (2006). North Africa. Identification: It resembles the other "Golden" Skippers but is readily distinguished by the bright white spots on the underside usually on a green ground colour. See also the Identification Page for Golden Skippers. Flight time: Summer - July and August, worn in September. Habitat: Hills and mountains over grassy flowery places. In the UK (and perhaps elsewhere) strictly a calcareous butterfly but more generally any open grassy place can be accepted. Often at high levels in the Alps, to over 2000m. Larvae take Festuca ovina. Behaviour: As with most skippers it flies rapidly low over the ground. Frequently visits flowers for nectar. |
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Valais, Switzerland, July 2005 |
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Valais, Switzerland, July 2005 |
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S Greece, July
2008 |
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Valais, Switzerland, July 2004 |
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S Pyrenees, Spain, August 2003 Female |
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S Pyrenees, Spain, August 2003 Upperside of butterfly above |
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Catalonia, Spain, August 2003 Male showing bold sex brand |
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Valais, Switzerland, July 2003 |
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