Chequered Skipper vs Snyder's Zorapteran

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Chequered Skipper Snyder's Zorapteran
Scientific Name Carterocephalus palaemon Zorotypus snyderi
Order Lepidoptera Zoraptera
Family Hesperiidae Zorotypidae
Size 26-32 mm wingspan 2-3 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, temperate Asia, North America Southeastern United States
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Chequered Skipper

A small dark butterfly with bold orange-yellow chequered spots, once found in English woodlands but now confined to western Scotland in Britain. It was successfully reintroduced to England in 2018.

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Did You Know?

It became extinct in England in 1976 but was reintroduced using stock from Belgium four decades later.

Snyder's Zorapteran

A minute gregarious insect living in small colonies in rotting logs. Wingless forms are blind and pale, while winged forms have eyes and darker coloration.

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Did You Know?

Winged zorapterans deliberately break off their own wings after finding a suitable colony site.