Large Skipper

The Large Skipper is one of the largest of our ‘golden’ Skippers. Both males and females have a dark checked markings on the lower part of their wings and the males have a distinctive sex brand on their forewings containing specialised scent scales.

The Large Skipper favours sheltered grassy areas, where foodplants grow, often damp areas where the grass remains tall and uncut. It can be seen in a wide variety of habitats. Woodland rides and clearings, pastures, roadside verges, hedgerows, wet heathland, parks and churchyards.

The Large Skipper is on the wing in June and July, often being seen into August.

The main larval foodplant is the Cock’s-foot grass (Dactylis glomerata), with Purple Moor grass (Molinia caerulea) and False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) sometimes being used.

It is a widespread species in England and Wales, becoming scarcer further North and in Southern Scotland.