learn about the Chequered Skipper

The Chequered Skipper was first found in Scotland in 1939 and little was known about the butterfly's Scottish life-style until the late 1980s. Today its entire UK population occurs in Lochaber and north Argyll, where there are around 50 colonies. Its small size, elusive nature and restricted distribution makes the Chequered Skipper a special enigma. It is associated with the edges, or open spaces within, damp woodlands normally below 200m (600ft). Sites are usually dominated by the caterpillar's main foodplant, purple moor-grass. The UK government has listed the Chequered Skipper as a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority species, in need of urgent conservation action. Characteristic double-notch made by the caterpillars in autumn

Many Chequered Skipper colonies are now The caterpillar uses silk to spin a protective tube confined to wayleaves only found within 30 miles of Fort William !

The Chequered Skipper Carterocephalus palaemon formerly occurred in the English East Midlands but became extinct there in 1976. The current boundaries of the Scottish population are Loch Arkaig in the north, Glen Spean in the east, around Loch Creran and Loch Etive in the south, and along Loch Sunart to Ardnamurchan and Moidart in the west.

Early stages Adult The small, white, dome-shaped eggs are laid singly in early The Chequered Skipper, so called June, usually half-way along the upper surface of a purple because of the golden chequered moor-grass Molinia caerulea leaf. Only lush, tussocky plants pattern on its wings, is the only growing in flushes, often associated with bog myrtle, light skipper butterfly in northwest scrub or the edge of bracken stands, are suitable. Scotland. It is under-recorded and occupies the landscape The egg hatches after three weeks, and the tiny caterpillar in low density colonies spread immediately spins the edges of the leaf together to form a over large areas. protective tube. Once it has eaten the leaf-blade down to the mid-rib, the caterpillar moves to a new leaf and starts again. In warm weather the adults are False brome may be an alternative foodplant. extremely active and fly with a swift, darting, almost moth-like gait that is In September the green caterpillar abandons its shelter and difficult to follow as they 'skip' just makes two semi-circular notches, one above the other, on above the vegetation. They can be opposite sides of the leaf-blade. It feeds on the leaf above seen from mid-May until the end of this double-notch. The notches are thought to restrict the June. Both sexes are very similar, flow of nutrients from the leaf to the roots, creating a more the females being slightly larger nutritious meal. and lighter in colour. The caterpillars hibernate from late October/early November to April within the spun leaves of their foodplant. By spring they have changed to a fawn colour to match their surroundings and do not feed before pupating on the ground. The butterfly emerges around six weeks later.

Size bars: actual size Adult male (wing span) Adult female (wing span) Caterpillar (fully grown) c29mm (c1 1/8in) c31mm (c1 1/4in) 22-26mm (c 7/8-1in) The male defends his territory from a favourite perch

Life Cycle: J F M A M J J A S O N D Egg Caterpillar Bugle, one of the Pupa Chequered Skipper’s Adult favoured nectar plants Life-cycle of the Chequered Skipper

Look for adults at sunny, sheltered Do you have Chequered Skippers on your land? sites with plenty of nectar plants, If you have the right habitats for Chequered Skipper on your land, especially bugle, bluebell and we are happy to provide advice on suitable management. marsh thistle. The males guard their territories from favourite Do you want to get involved? perches pursuing rival males and We need your help to undertake survey and monitoring work intercepting females. Females to determine the distribution and changes in the Chequered can be encountered in more open Skipper population. If you want to help or have seen areas searching for breeding sites. Chequered Skipper we would like to know. In the autumn carefully search for the caterpillar's characteristic If you can help us with either of the above double-notch feeding damage. please contact us, details on the back page

The glens around Fort William have warm, damp summers and mild winters that allow the deciduous Molinia to stay green late into autumn. Elsewhere Molinia leaves die off too early to allow the caterpillars to complete their development in the autumn. This is critical because the caterpillars do not feed in the spring. Distribution of the Chequered Skipper (199 5-199 9) a T I t s m b n f C o f T g L L M t w m T f l T M M H T D B w B P R R i d r o r h h k e p l e i i h o c h r h h u a u e e e h a s h g g o e e o i a a e o a e a l s g g a s c t c e e g e e t m w e o o l e a h h o a t a n i

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