Thymelicus sylvestris (m)
A male small skipper photographed during a biodiversity survey of the proposed extension to Chester Zoo Nature Reserve.
I was trying hard (but unsuccessfully) to find an Essex skipper during the survey as these have now been reported in the area. It's not easy as the distinguishing features (antenna club underside colour plus for males the size and orientation of the sex brand) are far from obvious in the field. Photographing every butterfly on the site may be the only answer! This is one of the easier cases with large sex brand that isn't parallel to the wing edge and the antenna club underside is clearly orange.
Thymelicus sylvestris (m)
A male small skipper photographed during a biodiversity survey of the proposed extension to Chester Zoo Nature Reserve.
I was trying hard (but unsuccessfully) to find an Essex skipper during the survey as these have now been reported in the area. It's not easy as the distinguishing features (antenna club underside colour plus for males the size and orientation of the sex brand) are far from obvious in the field. Photographing every butterfly on the site may be the only answer! This is one of the easier cases with large sex brand that isn't parallel to the wing edge and the antenna club underside is clearly orange.