Silver-lined Skipper

A silver streak runs along the underside of the wing.

Scientific name	Leptalina unicolor
English name	Silver-lined Skipper
Japanese name	銀一文字挵
Classification	Insecta
Classification details	Lepidoptera Hesperiidae
Full length	about 2cm.
Distribution	Northeastern Eurasia. In Japan, it is distributed from Hokkaido to Kyushu.

Characteristics

Hensericho has a silver band running along the underside of its yellowish-brown wings. The upper side of the wings is dark brown. It perches with its wings tightly closed, exposing its elongated belly. Palpi (the part that protrudes like a nose) is large and dark brown. Antennae are striped white and brown with black key-like tips.

The density of the silver band differs between the spring type and the summer type. The spring type is clear, but the summer type is unclear. The photo above is summer type.

Ecology

Found in grasslands and riverbeds. The larvae feed on plants of the grass family, so there is a great chance of finding them in riverbeds where silver grass grows thick. It occurs twice from spring to summer and sucks nectar from grassland flowers.

Its distribution is more localized than that of Ichimonjiseseri, and it is not always possible to see it in riverbeds.

Habitat

I took a picture of it perched on a leaf on the riverbed in Asakawa, Hachioji City. At first, I could not identify the species because it was a summer type and the silver band was unclear. It didn't even move even when it got very close. The wings were tightly closed, so I could not observe the front side carefully.