Small skipper

Thymelicus sylvestris syriacus

A “golden skipper” with a wingspan of 25-34 mm, of a bright reddish-orange colour and despite the name, larger than other species with less conspicuous veins. The small inhabits farmland, waste ground, tracksides, streamsides, scrub, flowery grassland, woodland, meadows, fields, and stony slopes. Host plants include orchard-grass (Dactylis glomerata), velvet-grass (Holcus lanatus), hair-grasses (Aira spp.), false-bromes (Brachypodium spp.), and mountain-rice (Oryzopsis spp.). It flies May through July, the flight is fast and strong.

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