Thymelicus sylvestris (Poda, 1761)  
Small Skipper, Braunkolbiger Braun-Dickkopffalter, Hesperie de la houque, Толстоголовка лесная. 

Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: 
The species' range includes much of Europe (East to the Urals, including Ireland, Britain and Scandinavia, and includes North Africa and the Middle East. Armenia is inhabited by subspecies T. s. syriaca Tutt, 1905, which in Armenia occupies deciduous  forests and meadows, at the elevation range between 800 and 2200 m a.s.l. The species uses wide variety of grasses as a host-plant:  Aira, Piptatherum, Holcus, Phleum, Deschampsia, Oryzopsis. The butterflies are on wing in a single generation, from early June till mid August depending on elevation. 

Population dynamics:
Based on the captured individuals it is possible to conclude that the species is quite common in a typical habitat, its abundance is lower at the edges of biotope. Strong similarity to T.lineola, doesn’t allow its transect counting via traditional visual identification at the distance; however basic impression is that the species is not declining. This is somewhat justified, as the Small Skipper is rather generalist and apparently can shift between the host plants, thus avoiding traditional threat as the overgrazing. 

Conservation measures: 
The wide distribution of the species includes also a range of Protected Areas, Emerald Sites, and Prime Butterfly Areas. At current the Small Skipper is only included in European Red Book as a Least Concern, and is not included in International and National Red Lists, as well as in CITES and Bern Conventions. Preliminary assessment of its conservation status also suggests it as a Least Concern, however with a reservation that its monitoring should be developed and lunched for the next decade.

Photo: K. Aghababyan