This marker on the Cambridge Butterfly Trail is at Barnwell East local nature reserve – see the map above.

Male Large skippers are typically seen perching in sunny, prominent spots, often choosing a large leaf where tall and short vegetation meet, as they wait for females to pass. Females are less noticeable, but both males and females may be observed feeding on flowers, with bramble being a preferred choice.

A key feature of the male is a thick black line running through the centre of the forewing. The undersides of the wings show faint orange spots, in contrast to the bright silver spots found on the Silver-spotted Skipper.

This species can be distinguished from the similar-looking Small and Essex skippers, which are active at the same time of year, by a faint chequered pattern visible on both the upper and lower surfaces of the wings. The Large skipper is common across southern Britain and has been expanding its range northwards in north-east England since the 1960s.

For more information, please visit Butterfly Conservation’s page on this species – Large Skipper.