Millet Skipper

Pelopidas thrax (H眉bner, [1821])

Status

Description

A dark brown skipper, superficially similar to the Gegenes species but noticeably larger, more robust, and with bold white spots of different sizes on the upper and lower wings. The antennae are hooked and the male's scent gland is very noticeable as a narrow diagonal white dash in line with the spots on the upper wing.

Most skippers are fast fliers but the Millet Skipper is incredibly fast. It rises relatively slowly from its perch but then speeds away quicker than the eye can follow.聽

Habitat Requirements

Larval Foodplants

Observations

This species was first noted by Will George when checking his photos from August 2023. He queried whether it could be the Millet Skipper and other observers from Greece confirmed that it was. Since then it has been seen in other sites in northern Corfu by several different observers including the Barry family, Dan Danahar, Anne Sordinas and David and Lesley Shearan.

*The information provided in the tables below is based on verified sightings of the Millet Skipper submitted via this website since 1st January 2021.

First and Last Sightings

Year First Last/latest # Days
2023 30/08/2023 16/11/2023 78 days

Number of Observations

Year Number of observations
2023 29
2022 0
2021 0
Grand Total 29

Distribution Map

Distribution maps for this species are currently unavailable.

Flight Times for the Millet Skipper (2023)

The chart below shows flight data by month for 2023

Flight Times for the Millet Skipper (All Data)

The chart below shows flight data by month since 1st January 2021

Taxonomy

  • Vernacular/Common Name: Millet Skipper
  • Family: Hesperiidae ()
  • Sub-family: Hesperiinae ()
  • Genus: Pelopidas (H眉bner, 1819)
  • Species: thrax (H眉bner, [1821])

References

For a list of references, please see our bibliography page.