LULWORTH SKIPPER |
THYMELICUS ACTEON |
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| Fig 1 |
ADULT: Wingspan - 22 - 27mm. Dull orange in colour and seemingly darker than similar species with the distinctive ID feature being a pale orange crescent on the forewing which is more obvious in the female. Males are generally darker in colour. CHRYSALIS: Found in a tent of grass blades wrapped with silk. LARVA: Night feeding within a self constructed sheath of grass blades. New sheaths are made on new grasses as and when required. EGG: Found in rows in sheaths amongst Tor grass. BEHAVIOUR: Inactive in dull weather but when sunny a keen eye will be needed to keep track of this active butterfly as it flits around amongst the grass. HABITAT: Tall grassland and meadows and south facing sheltered slopes. FLIGHT PERIOD: July to September. |