Silver-spotted Skipper

Description:

This species is easily distinguished by the numerous white spots on the underside hindwings. The Silver-spotted Skipper prefers warm calcareous sites and has a wide distribution as far south as North Africa, northwards throughout Europe to the Arctic and eastwards across Asia to China and Japan. Females lay single eggs during August and September on the leaf blades of Sheep's Fescue (Festuca ovina), the only foodplant, and occasionally on nearby plants. The females are very fussy where they lay. This species overwinters as an egg and hatches in March. Like other skippers the larvae construct small tent-like structures from leaf blades and silk from which to feed. They enter the pupal stage after 14 to 15 weeks at the base of the foodplant. Pupation takes 10 to 14 days, and as with most butterflies the males emerge first.

Habitat:

Spotted in the mountains t 1500 m heigh. Meadows and rocks

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/500 sec.; f/11; ISO Speed Rating: 400. Focal Length: 300.0 mm.