Biology
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The flight period occurs between late July and early September. This species is single-brooded; eggs are laid singly on the leaves of sheep's-fescue growing in a short sward next to patches of bare soil. The eggs remain un-hatched through winter; larvae emerge in early spring and feed beneath small protective webs. Pupation occurs in a cocoon at ground level (3).
Conservation
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Targeted conservation work continues on a number of nature reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). Agri-environment schemes such as Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas, include measures to encourage farmers to manage their land in ways that benefit this species (3). An increase in stock grazing, preferably by cattle, in important sites will decrease this skipper's dependency on rabbit grazing, which is often unpredictable (3).
Conservation of the silver-spotted skipper requires a landscape-scale approach, as the species persists in 'metapopulations', occupying discrete habitat patches connected by dispersal over quite large areas (3). A number of reintroductions to nature reserves in Kent have been attempted, as natural recolonisation was unlikely (3). The silver-spotted skipper is a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (4).
Description
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This butterfly is orange-brown in colour with pale spots that are more noticeable on females. The underside is pale brown with silvery spots, and males have a black band on the upperside of the forewing (1). The caterpillar reaches 2.6 centimetres in length, and has a dull olive-green body with a black collar behind the large black head (2).
Habitat
provided by Arkive
Breeds on warm, south facing slopes in open chalk grassland with short turf and patches of bare soil. The presence of the larval foodplant, sheep's-fescue (Festuca ovina), is essential (3).
Range
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The rare silver-spotted skipper is found across Europe and throughout temperate Asia. In Britain it is restricted to chalk downland in southern England following a substantial decline which resulted in its extinction in Yorkshire, the Cotswolds, the northern parts of the Chilterns and much of the North Downs (3).
Status
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Protected in Great Britain by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, with respect to sale only (4).
Threats
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Habitat loss and fragmentation has been a key factor in the decline (4). Agricultural intensification has removed much habitat, but neglect and a decline in grazing results in the sward growing too high for the species. Grazing by rabbits decreased the effect of abandonment, but myxomatosis caused a crash in rabbit populations in the early 1950s. The silver-spotted skipper went into rapid decline as a result of the decrease in grazing (3). A combination of the recovery of rabbit populations and targeted conservation work resulted in a partial recovery of this butterfly in the 1980s and 1990s (3).
North American Ecology (US and Canada)
provided by North American Butterfly Knowledge Network
Hesperia comma is a year-round resident across much of Canada and from Alaska south to California and west to Texas, and is also in northern Africa, Europe and Asia (Scott 1986). Habitats are open woodland and grassland. Host plants are multiple genera of grasses and sedges (Cyperaceae) in Japan. Eggs are laid haphazardly on or near the host plant. Individuals overwinter as eggs, and as older larvae or pupae in the Arctic. There is a variable number of flights each year depending on latitude with one flight between June 1-Sept.30 in much of the range, two flights between June 15- Oct. 15 in southern Nevada, and flying biennially in the Arctic, between July 1-July 31 (Scott 1986).
Conservation Status
provided by University of Alberta Museums
Not of concern.
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Cyclicity
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Flies in even-numbered years, with peak activity from early July to early August.
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Distribution
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Hesperia comma manitoba occurs throughout most of the boreo-montane region of western Canada, south to Montana and Washington state (Layberry et al. 1998, Guppy & Sheppard 2001). Nominate H. comma (L.) was originally described from Europe, and as such the Common Branded Skipper is considered to range from northern Africa across Eurasia into North America, and south to California.
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General Description
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Distinguishing species of the genus Hesperia can be a challenge even to the experienced lepidopterist; differences in wing markings are subtle, and are best appreciated by looking at series of individuals from any given locality. The Common Branded Skipper can usually be separated from the Plains Skipper (H. assiniboia) and the Nevada Skipper (H. nevada) by habitat, since both of the latter species are primarily prairie inhabitants; The Nevada Skipper can also be distinguished by its larger size, pale greenish underside ground colour, and by the ventral hindwing maculation: the spot nearest the abdomen is more or less in line with the adjacent spots in H. comma, whereas this spot is offset towards the wing base in H. nevada. Additional characters that distinguish comma include the darker underside ground colour and a 'stubbier' forewing shape. H. comma was described from Europe, and our subspecies, manitoba (Scudder), may prove to be distinct at the species level from the true comma.
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Habitat
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Mountain grasslands and meadows, including alpine and subalpine habitats.
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Life Cycle
provided by University of Alberta Museums
Undescribed for Alberta populations. Larvae are green with brown or black heads (Opler 1999). The closely related taxon oregonia (W.H. Edwards) overwinters as an egg on Vancouver Island, BC (Hardy 1954). The Common Branded Skipper's biennial life cycle in the mountains indicates it overwinters twice, likely once as an egg and again as a larva. Larvae of oregonia construct silken cells and use these as shelters (Hardy 1954). In addition to the cordilleran records of this species, there are also a few isolated records from the northern boreal region, where it should be looked for in open, grassy areas. Unlike the mountain populations, boreal H. comma manitoba fly every year (McNeill 1964).
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Trophic Strategy
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There are no reported larval host plants for H. comma manitoba, but the larvae likely feed on native grasses.
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Hesperia comma
provided by wikipedia EN
Crab spider (
Misumena Vatia) with prey
Extreme close-up of head of the Hesperia comma butterfly
Hesperia comma, the silver-spotted skipper or common branded skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is known as silver-spotted skipper in Europe and common branded skipper in North America where the butterfly Epargyreus clarus, a spread-winged skipper, also has the common name of "silver-spotted skipper".
Appearance, behaviour and distribution
Often confused with the large skipper Ochlodes venata, this species is easily distinguished by the numerous white spots on the underside hindwings, and the tips of the upper forewings tend to be darker than those of the large skipper. Also their flight periods rarely overlap; in Britain the large skipper has all but finished when the silver-spotted takes to the wing in August. The silver-spotted skipper prefers warm calcareous sites and has a wide distribution as far south as North Africa, northwards throughout Europe to the Arctic and eastwards across Asia to China and Japan. It also has subspecies in North America. In the UK it is rare and restricted to chalk downlands of southern England.
Subspecies
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Hesperia comma benuncas (Oberthur 1912)
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Hesperia comma borealis Lindsey 1942 – Labrador branded skipper
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Hesperia comma catena (Staudinger 1861)
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Hesperia comma colorado (Scudder 1874)
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Hesperia comma dimila (Moore 1874)
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Hesperia comma hulbirti Lindsey 1939 – Hulbirt's branded skipper
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Hesperia comma laurentina (Lyman 1892) – Laurentian branded skipper
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Hesperia comma lena Korshunov & P. Gorbunov 1995
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Hesperia comma manitoba (Scudder 1874) – Manitoba branded skipper
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Hesperia comma mixta Alpheraky 1881
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Hesperia comma pallida Staudinger 1901
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Hesperia comma planula Korshunov 1995
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Hesperia comma shandura Evans 1949
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Hesperia comma sushinki Korshunov 1995
Life cycle and foodplants
Females lay single eggs during August and September on the leaf blades of sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, the only foodplant, and occasionally on nearby plants. The females are very fussy where they lay; most eggs in the UK are laid in short turf, up to 4 cm, and often next to patches of bare ground. This species overwinters as an egg and hatches in March. Like other skippers the larvae construct small tent-like structures from leaf blades and silk from which to feed. They enter the pupal stage after 14 to 15 weeks at the base of the foodplant. Pupation takes 10 to 14 days, and as with most butterflies the males emerge first.
Recent resurgence in the UK
Concerted conservation efforts in the UK, backed by government agencies, have seen this once-threatened species thriving in certain areas. Numbers have increased by some 1500% over the last twenty years; the number of sites has increased from just 68, with 202 new sites established. Conservation schemes have focussed on providing the silver-spotted skipper with suitable habitats, with positive results.
See also
References and external links
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Hesperia comma: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
male
Crab spider (Misumena Vatia) with prey
Extreme close-up of head of the Hesperia comma butterfly
Hesperia comma, the silver-spotted skipper or common branded skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is known as silver-spotted skipper in Europe and common branded skipper in North America where the butterfly Epargyreus clarus, a spread-winged skipper, also has the common name of "silver-spotted skipper".
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.jpg)
male _with_prey_silver-spotted_skipper_(Hesperia_comma).jpg)
Crab spider (Misumena Vatia) with prey 
Extreme close-up of head of the Hesperia comma butterfly 
