Carterocephalus silvicola, the northern chequered skipper, is a species of butterfly of the family Hesperiidae.[1] It is found in northern Europe and the northern and eastern Palearctic.[2]
| Carterocephalus silvicola | |
|---|---|
_male.jpg) | |
| male | |
_female_underside.jpg) | |
| both in Estonia | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Hesperiidae |
| Genus: | Carterocephalus |
| Species: | C. silvicola |
| Binomial name | |
| Carterocephalus silvicola Meigen, 1829 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Description
The front wing length is twelve to 13 millimeters. The upper surface of the forewings is light yellow with large brown-black discal and small submarginal spots. The hindwings are basically brown-black in color with yellow spots arranged as in Carterocephalus palaemon and with an additional spot on the costa . The bottom is the same as the top. The female has slightly larger spots as well as a dark basal region and a dark outer edge.
Carterocephalus silvicola ♂
♂ △
♀
♀ △
_Carterocephalus_silvicola_-_Krakow_-_Pologne_-_male_dorsal.jpg)
_Carterocephalus_silvicola_-_Krakow_-_Pologne_-_male_ventral.jpg)
_Carterocephalus_silvicola_-_Puszcza_Kampinoska_-_Pologne_-_female_dorsal.jpg)
_Carterocephalus_silvicola_-_Puszcza_Kampinoska_-_Pologne_-_female_ventral.jpg)
The caterpillars are grass green when mature with pale dorsal and lateral dorsal lines. They grow up to about 25 millimeters long. Before hibernating, the caterpillars turn gray-yellow. They overwinter as adult caterpillars.
The pupa is pale yellow with brown vertical stripes
Biology
The butterfly flies from May to June depending on the location.
The larvae feed on various grasses.
References
