# Large Skipper

*Ochlodes sylvanus*

Males possess a prominent black line on their forewings called a 'sex brand,' which contains specialized scales that release pheromones to attract females.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Hesperiidae › Ochlodes
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Tall grasslands, woodland rides, hedgerows, and damp meadows.
- **Diet:** Adults feed on nectar from bramble, thistles, and knapweeds; larvae consume various grasses including Cocksfoot and Purple Moor-grass.
- **Range:** Europe, Temperate Asia, North Africa
- **Size:** Wingspan of 28mm to 32mm.
- **Lifespan:** Approximately 1 year, with the adult flight stage lasting only 2-3 weeks.
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat fragmentation, intensive agricultural grazing, and the removal of tall grass margins.
- **Safe to approach?:** Entirely harmless to humans. Observe from a short distance as they are easily spooked by fast movements. No special precautions are needed if accidental contact occurs, though handling should be avoided to protect their delicate wing scales.

## About

The large skipper ( Ochlodes sylvanus ) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/694ce349-d28f-4980-a9e1-12a1256db6a4
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/61781
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochlodes sylvanus
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/244499836/medium.jpg (SteveM4560, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.