A common butterfly in the right habitat.
Where to see
- Habitat: Open/rough ground, clearings
- Caterpillar foodplants: Cocksfoot grass, False Brome grass
- Best places: Widespread in rural areas with the right habitat
Distribution map
Large Skipper was recorded from these 1km squares in Dorset (2015-19).
- Key:
- 1 record
- 2-9 records
- 10+ records
When to see
On the wing from the end of May, through June and July and into the very start of August
Sightings by month (last 5 years)*
This year and last*
What to look for
The Large Skipper is a little larger than the Small Skipper, though it can be difficult to judge in the field.
The Large is the only Skipper (other than the Dingy and Grizzled) which has mottled rather tan pure golden wings: both the upperside and the underside have the orange background colour broken up by a mixture of yellow dots and splodges.
The male, on its upper forewings has very pronounced scent marks, more pronounced than any other of our skippers. Do note that having a scent mark does not mean it has to be a Large Skipper – all the male Skippers (other than the Dingy and Grizzled) have them, it is just that the Large Skipper’s marks are particularly pronounced. Male Large Skippers have yellowish dots around the tip of the forewing.
The male Large Skipper is a very territorial butterfly, and if you disturb him from his favourite ‘perch’ on some long grass or bush he will nearly always return to the same spot. Other orange skippers do not have that behaviour.
The Large can also be identified by having hooks on the ends of its antennae: these show up well in the photo at the top of the page and the one by Penny Hawes below.
The Small Skipper is quite plain by comparison.
The female Lulworth Skipper can be superficially similar, though it is a lot smaller.
Confusion with the Silver-spotted Skipper is unlikely in Dorset, which only has a known colony on Fontmell Down in North Dorset.
Photo gallery
Click thumbnails to view full-size images.