Genus ADOPOEA, Billberg , 1820 
THE SMALL SKIPPER 
Adopoea sylvestris (Poda, 1761 =thaumas). 
(Plate XXXII, facing page 349) 
This very active little butterfly has a short, rapid and 
buzzing flight from one resting spot to another. It may be 
seen basking in the sun, with drooping hind wings and fore 
wings held partly erect, upon the leaf of some low-growing 
plant. It is much attracted to various wild flowers, especially 
Thistles and Knapweed ; its favourite flower is the Field 
Thistle (Carduus acanthoides). 
Haunts and Distribution. The Small Skipper is generally 
common but locally distributed throughout the greater part 
of England and Wales ; in many localities it is abundant ; 
in other places, although apparently suitable, it is absent. 
In the north it is rare, being unknown or very rare in Scotland. 
Lancashire appears to be its northern limit. In Ireland it 
has been recorded from Co. Wicklow and near Cork. Its 
favourite haunts are openings and borders of woods, rough 
uncultivated hillsides, hollows on downs, and rough grassy 
fields abounding in mixed herbage and wild flowers, also 
flowery banks and waysides. It also frequents marshes and 
sandhills by the coast. On the dense grassy sea walls on the 
Essex coast I have found this butterfly in great abundance 
in company with its near ally the Essex Skipper ( A . lineola ). 
Abroad it is distributed over the greater part of Europe, 
Algeria, Canary Islands and Asia Minor. 
Time of Appearance. This is a single-brooded species, 
appearing on the wing from the end of June until the end 
of August. 
Hibernation. The Small Skipper hibernates in the larval 
state and almost immediately after emerging from the egg, 
as it then constructs a tiny cocoon in which to pass its long 
winter's sleep, extending over eight months. 
Egg and Egg Laying. On July 17th a few years ago I 
watched three females laying their eggs on Cat's Tail Grass 
(Phleum pratensc) and Soft Creeping Grass (Holcus mollis ). 
All three butterflies acted in precisely the same manner. 
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