# Small Skipper (*Thymelicus sylvestris*) The Small Skipper is a tiny butterfly with orange-brown wings. It flits around fields and meadows, bringing joy with its playful movements and bright colors. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Small Skipper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Thymelicus_sylvestris_underside_-_Keila.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thymelicus_sylvestris_underside_-_Keila.jpg) ## Appearance The Small Skipper is a small, golden-orange butterfly with slightly hooked antennae tipped in black. Its forewings often show a dark brown streak, helping to distinguish it from similar species. This coloration provides good camouflage in sunny grasslands. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Hesperiidae - **Genus:** Thymelicus ## Interesting facts - Male Small Skippers have a dark scent mark to attract females. - The caterpillar hibernates as a tiny larva inside a silk tent in grass. - Their name comes from their unique, fast, skipping flight pattern! - They often rest with forewings at a different angle than hindwings. ## Special abilities - **Speedy Skippers:** Small Skipper can fly with quick, darting movements because of their powerful flight muscles, helping them evade predators. - **Nectar Sipper:** Small Skipper has a long, coiled proboscis that helps them sip sweet nectar from deep inside flowers. - **Stealthy Eggs:** Small Skipper can lay its tiny eggs safely inside grass sheaths, protecting them from hungry animals. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 27-34 mm - **Size:** 15-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-20 days - **Flight Speed:** 18 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip sweet nectar from flowers, while their caterpillars munch on various types of grass. - **Age differences:** Larvae feed on grass blades, while adults use their proboscis to drink nectar from flowers. - **Primary Foods:** Thistle nectar, Ragwort nectar, Cock's-foot grass, Yorkshire Fog grass - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Birds often prey on adult butterflies. - **Pollinates:** [Creeping Thistle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/creeping-thistle) (*Cirsium arvense*) — Adults feed on its nectar and help pollination. - **Eats:** Cock's-foot (*Dactylis glomerata*) — Its caterpillars feed on the grass leaves. - **Eaten by:** Garden Cross Spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — Spiders can capture butterflies in their webs. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Butterflies are friendly and safe to watch, but don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Small Skipper? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Small Skipper's wingspan? 27-34 mm ### How big is Small Skipper? 15-20 mm ### How long does Small Skipper live? 10-20 days ### How fast can Small Skipper fly? 18 km/h ### What does Small Skipper eat? Adults sip sweet nectar from flowers, while their caterpillars munch on various types of grass. ### Where is Small Skipper usually found? Grasslands ### How does Small Skipper hunt? Foraging ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Small Skipper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/small-skipper)