Species account

Spejlbredpande (Heteropterus morpheus)    Duméril (1806)
   Bredpander (Hesperiidae) [Sommerfugle]    LCSK    24906
Large Chequered Skipper (gb)   Saltarina (es)   Spegelsmygare (se)  
Measurements:
WS: 30-36mm
Generations:
1
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
SE
Identification:
Similar species:
Life stages:
Distribution:
N Spain, W France and much of EC Europe, Italy, Denmark, Lithuania, Galkans, SE Bulgaria, NW Turkey, C Asia, Amur and Korea.
Habitat:
Nutrition-poor meadows, wet or near water with tall broad-leaved grasses. Forest clearings, along rivers or lakes.
Behavior:
Peculiar dancing flight. Like hopping in the air with every wing beat. Very elegant!
Host plants:
Eng-Rørhvene (Calamagrostis canescens) [Purple Small-Reed ~ Grenrör]
Blåtop (Molinia caerulea) [Purple Moor-Grass ~ Molinia ~ Blåtåtel]
Skov-Stilkaks (Brachypodium sylvaticum) [False-Brome ~ Lastón ~ Lundskafting]
Tagrør (Phragmites australis) [Common Reed ~ Carrizo ~ Phragmites australis]
Rørgræs (Phalaris arundinacea) [Reed Canary Grass ~ alpiste cinta ~ Rörflen]
Feeding plants:
Tidsler [Thistles ~ Cardos ~ Tistlar]
Almindelig Kællingetand (Lotus corniculatus) [Bird's-foot Trefoil ~ Loto Corniculado ~ Käringtand
Status (?):NE: Not evaluated
NA: Not applicable
DD: Data deficient
LC: Least concern
NT: Near threatened
VU: Vulnerable
EN: Endangered
CR: Critically endangered
EW: Extinct in the wild
EX: Extinct
LX: Locally extinct
. Recently arrived species in Denmark, 2008. Still very local in Denmark, being restricted to Bøtøskoven (Falster). But the small population is apparently stable for now.
Comment:
As with many other butterflies it is a good idea to visit early or late in the day when the sun is less strong. Otherwise the animals tend to be to active flying around constantly or being very wary and flush from a larger distance. Relevant for those who wants to take photos.
Large Chequered Skipper 896    (1 photos)
2022-07-03    Bøtø-skoven, Denmark

Imago
Sexes alike.

The first one to sit still when we returned to the site in the afternoon. Earlier they would just flush from a large distance and fly far before sitting out of sight.




Large Chequered Skipper 898    (2 photos)
2022-07-03    Bøtø-skoven, Denmark

Imago
The discrete upperside compared to the flashy underside, allowing for a complete disguise and disappearing act, if necessary.



Large Chequered Skipper 899    (2 photos BOTH SIDES)
2022-07-03    Bøtø-skoven, Denmark

Imago
I had gotten the impression that the species never sat with the wings open, but during the 15 minutes we were there, we found two that did so readily.




Large Chequered Skipper 1964    (1 photos)
2023-07-21    Bøtø-skoven, Denmark

Imago
A too short visit gave a single photo of one of the four animals flying at that moment.



Large Chequered Skipper 2859    (2 photos BOTH SIDES)
2024-07-15    Bøtø-skoven, Denmark

Imago
Lysning sv for parkeringspladsen.
5 animals flying this afternoon. Locality looking as good as last year, though perhaps more dense vegetation with smaller trees growing. But still good patches with grass in between.




Large Chequered Skipper 2860    (2 photos)
2024-07-15    Bøtø-skoven, Denmark

Imago
Lysning sv for parkeringspladsen.
One of 5 today.




Large Chequered Skipper 897    (4 photos)
2022-07-03    Bøtø-skoven, Denmark

Imago Han & Hun
The hidden individual is a male that arrived to try to mate, but the female didn't look too impressed, and rejected him, why he took off again.