Yellow-banded Skipper
Common NameYellow-banded Skipper
Scientific NamePyrgus sidae
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyPyrginae
Wingspan (mm)31
Primary Colorsyellow, grey, black
HabitatDry grasslands, rocky slopes, steppe, open woodlands
Geographic RangeSouthern and Eastern Europe, Turkey, Caucasus, Central Asia, parts of the Middle East
Host PlantsPotentilla, Althaea, Malva
Flight PeriodMay to July (sometimes a partial second brood in August-September)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis; eggs are laid on host plants, larvae feed on leaves, pupation occurs before emerging as an adult butterfly.
Identification TipsDistinguished by the striking bright yellow bands on the underside of the hindwings, contrasting with the greyish-white ground color. Like other skippers, it has a robust body and hooked antennae.
Description
A small skipper butterfly with a greyish-white body and wings, featuring prominent bright yellow bands and black markings on the underside, particularly on the hindwings.
