Chequered Skipper
Carterocephalus palaemonThe Chequered Skipper is the comeback king. A small but lively butterfly found in woodland and grassland edges, they’re fast and low-flying, with a distinctive gold and brown checkerboard pattern that helps them blend into vegetation. Males are highly territorial, chasing intruders from their patch. Once extinct in England, the species has made a comeback through successful reintroduction efforts.
Fast as a flash, this butterfly skips along
As caterpillars, Chequered Skippers live inside a protective tube they create out of grass and silk.
As an adult, much like their name implies, this fuzzy, huffy little golden-brown jewel of a butterfly can be found skipping over grass-tops in woodland edges and grasslands in Scotland and England.
The Chequered Skipper is small, speedy and capable of zipping from perch to plant in a heartbeat, making it a tricky but exciting spot.
In the unlikely event you manage to get a closer look, you’ll see beautifully intricate wing patterns that help them blend in amongst grasses, bracken, and scrub, especially when they close their wings to reveal their coffee and cream-coloured undersides.
What they lack in stature, they make up for in personality. The male Chequered Skipper fiercely defends its territory from high vantage points, darting out to investigate other insects intruding on its patch and chasing off unwanted males, all while keeping an eye out for a potential mate.
The female, meanwhile, will spend most of its time fluttering amongst grasses looking for places to lay eggs and stopping for nectar on blue and purple flowers like Bluebells, Bugle and Marsh Thistle.
This bold little butterfly is a comeback king. It went extinct in England in 1976, just about clinging on in some areas of western Scotland, before being reintroduced to Rockingham Forest in Northamptonshire in 2018.
Vibes
Each butterfly is scored out of 100 across a set of traits, from how bold and visible it is to how far it travels or how particular it is about where it lives. These scores compare each species with the other butterflies in Britain, helping you see their differences at a glance. Here’s what makes the Chequered Skipper special.
Bright colours, bold patterns, and a love of the spotlight. Some butterflies just can’t help showing off.
Fast, or throwing some seriously impressive moves, these butterflies are in a flutter.
Always on guard, ready to hide or defend - these butterflies have self-preservation down to an art.
It’s ok to be a little… well, weird. These butterflies have been certified with the freak factor.
Like Goldilocks, everything has to be just right for these perfectionists.
Hard to spot and even harder to forget, these butterflies are a true one of a kind.
Bold, curious, and ready to explore, these brave butterflies live for the thrill and aren’t afraid to travel.
Weather-resistant, battle-hardened, and built to survive, these butterflies know how to take it on the wing.
The Chequered Skipper is small, speedy and capable of zipping from perch to plant in a heartbeat.
Test your knowledge
What makes the Chequered Skipper a conservation success story in England?The Chequered Skipper went extinct in England in 1976 but has since been successfully reintroduced, including into Rockingham Forest.
Does the Chequered Skipper get your vote?