Large Chequered Skipper (Heteropterus morpheus) | Species | ||||||||||||
 Male. Taken in the Brenne, France on June 24th 2009. (1/200th sec at f14. © David Hastings)  Male underside. Taken in the Brenne, France on June 26th 2009. (1/60th sec at f13. © David Hastings) DescriptionFamily: Hesperiidae Wing span: 32 - 38mm The Large Chequered Skipper has dark brown upper surfaces with a few small whiteish spots. The underside is yellowish with large black-bordered white spots. The sexes are similar. It is found in western France and eastern Europe, with small populations in northern Spain and Holland/Belgium. It is found along shady roads and in woodland clearings where the soil is damp. Adults are on the wing in late June and July. The larva is the over-wintering stage. The primary larval foodplant is Purple Moor-grass (Molinia caerulea). This butterfly has a distinctive flight, which consists of a series of 'hops' or 'bounces' low over the ground, making identification possible from a distance. Sightings
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