Skipping on the grass - large chequered skipper
Text and photos Ave Liivamägi
Translation: Liis
Large chequered skipper Uneliblikas Heteropterus morpheus
The flight mode of this pretty butterfly is peculiar. The chequered skipper jumps or skips in the air, just as if it were colliding with an invisible air layer above the vegetation. The aimlessness of the butterfly’s flight is also apparent, leaving an impression that the butterfly is sleepy or slightly drunk. From this the Latin and Estonian names of the butterfly: ”morpheus” and ”uneliblikas” (sleep butterfly), respectively.
Similar to the flight mode, the exterior of the chequered skipper is eye-catching, particularly the underside of the rear wings that have dark-bordered white ovals on a yellow background. The chequered skipper is not ungenerous with displaying its beautiful wing pattern. Most of the time it sits with folded wings on the vegetation. In contrast, the upper surface of the wings that is rather uninteresting is less often exhibited to passers-by.
Upper surface of the chequered skipper’s wings.
As habitat it prefers meadows and forest verges. The forage plants of the caterpillar are several grasses such as Melica. and Calamagrostis species.
This year skippers seem to be visible more often than in previous years.
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