Thymelicus acteon

Lepidoptera
Hesperiidae
Hesperiinae
Thymelicus

The Lulworth Skipper is one of the smallest of our butterflies. It is restricted to the extreme south of Dorset where it can be found in large numbers along a stretch of coast centred on the village of Lulworth, where the species was first discovered in 1832. The females can be distinguished from other skippers by the pale orange 'sun-ray' markings on their forewings whereas the males have darker-brown, almost olive coloured wings.
European/world rangeOccurs locally across south and central Europe through to Asia Minor and also in North Africa. Severe decline in the north of Europe but still locally abundant in lowland calcareous grasslands in the south.
FoodplantsThe butterfly breeds on tall patches of Tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum).
HabitatThe main habitats are unfertilized calcareous grasslands, including chalk downland, coastal grassland, and undercliffs. The butterfly also occasionally uses grasslands on calcareous clays, or even road verges where chalk or limestone ballast has been used in construction. Females prefer to lay eggs on tall foodplants (30-50 cm), and only rarely select patches 10-30 cm tall (never patches under 10 cm). Most colonies are on south-facing slopes and grasslands sheltered from onshore winds.

La Azohia Cartagena 09/05/2007