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| UK Status |
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| Resident |
A species which is continually Resident in the UK with stable breeding populations. |
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| Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Migrant in the UK. It may be able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Migrants are normally reported in the UK every year. |
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| Rare Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Rare Migrant in the UK. It may able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Rare Migrants may not be seen for many years. |
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| Extinct |
A species which is Extinct in the UK, usually as a result of habitat loss. |
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| Introduction |
A species which ocurs in the UK as an accidental introduction. |
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Description
The Chequered Skipper is dark brown marked with a distinctive orange-yellow chequered pattern on the upper sides of its wings. The males perch in sheltered spot on a prominent position defending their territory and awaiting passing females. Females tend to fly low among the vegetation seeking out places to lay their eggs.
The larvae are white with a black head at first, feeding within a tubular shelter of grass spun together with silk. As the larvae mature, they begin to feed more freely and turn pale green by late autumn.
The larvae fall off the foodplant (Purple Moor Grass) which dies back during the winter. During this time, the larvae hibernate low down among the dead grass. Pupation takes place the following spring attached by a silk girdle to a blade of grass.
Further Reading
Ravenscroft, N. (1996) The Chequered Skipper. Butterfly Conservation, Colchester.
Habitat
Colonies in Scotland breed in open grassland where the larval food plant occurs on wet but not waterlogged soils especially near the edges of open broad-leaved woodland where Birch scrub and Bog Myrtle occur. Breeding areas are usually below 200m beside rivers and lochs usually at the base of a slope.
The colonies which once existed in England occurred in rides and glades and damp coppiced woodland which are the normal habitat of preference for the species on mainland Europe.
Larval Food Plants
The primary larval food plant in Scottish colonies is Purple Moor-grass (Molinia caerulea).
In England before the species became extinct here, the larvae fed on False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) and Tor Grass (Brachypodium pinnatum).
Other known foodplants include: Hairy Brome Grass (Bromus ramosus), Wood Small Reed (Calamagrostis epigejos), Cock's-foot Grass (Dactylis glomerata), Meadow Foxtail Grass (Alopecurus pratensis) and Timothy Grass (Phleum pratense).
See May. P. R (2003) for more information about larval foodplants. |
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| Distribution |
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The Chequered Skipper was present locally in a number of counties in central England including Leicestershire (Wakerley) Northamptonshire (Weldon) Cambridgeshire (Brampton Wood, Wansford, Kings Cliffe), Lincolnshire (Market Rasen) and Norfolk. By 1976, the Chequered Skipper had become extinct in England as a result of changes in woodland managment following the war.
Re-establishment trials in England have taken place since 1990 using individuals from the Ardennes region of France in preference to Scottish individuals (due to different habitat and foodplant requirements). A permanent colony is yet to become established in England.
Colonies still exist in western Scotland, where approximately ten core areas centred on Fort William occur. Its distribution in Scotland appears to be stable. |
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| Where to see the Chequered Skipper |
Allt Mhuic Nature Reserve on Loch Arkaig. Allt Mhuic is a Butterfly Conservation Reserve (first in Scotland) and was officially opened on June 2nd 2003. The reserve is 80 hectare in size and supports important populations of the Chequered Skipper and also the Pearl-bordered Fritillary Large Heath and Scotch Argus. Visit between mid-May and the end of June when you can see both species.
Glasdrum Wood is also a good site located near the head of Loch Creran in Strathclyde. |
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| Population Trends |
| species status |
the Chequered Skipper is a resident species in Britain |
| population trend1 |
(1995-2004)  insuficient data |
(1976-2004) insuficient data |
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1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Status |
| UK BAP status2 |
priority species (link) |
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| 2 For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species status, visit www.ukbap.org.uk. |
| IUCN Category Status |
| IUCN category3 |
 endangered4 |
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3 Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4 More information about IUCN categories available here. |
| Find Out More Online* |
| More information about the Chequered Skipper can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site. |
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Aberrations and Forms |
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| We currently know of 9 named aberrant forms of the Chequered Skipper. More information about aberrants can be found here. |
 ab. albinotica - Goodson (1960) |
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| ab. aurantia - Tutt (1906) |
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| ab. conjuncta - Blachier (1910) |
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| ab. excessa - Tutt (1906) |
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| ab. habeneyi - Siegel (1921) |
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| ab. luteana - Cabeau (1926) |
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| ab. melicertes - Schultz (1902) |
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| ab. nigra - Derenne (1919) |
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| ab. scabellata - Lempke (1953) |
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| References |
| The information on this web site comes from a variety of freely available resources including books, academic reports and web sites alongside my own personal observations of butterflies. The species descriptions are currently in the process of being edited (spring 2009) to include new data, recent personal observations and referencing following a major update to the site.
A complete list of references mentioned in the text on this web site is available here. |
| * External Links Disclaimer |
| This web site includes links to information provided by external web sites which are not in any way under the control of www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. We cannot, therefore, be held responsible for the content of external web pages. |
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29-31mm
