Het Spiegeldikkopje in Vlaanderen

The Large Chequered Skipper (Heteropterus morpheus) is a rare species in Flanders. The butterfly is found in the northern part of the country close to the Belgian-Dutch border, probably as part of a larger colony. Habitat destruction through drainage, development of agricultural land and peat extraction is the cause of the butterfly’s decline. Recently, a colony of Large Chequered Skippers exists in Stramprooierbroek. Here, woodland management and the creation of marshy clearings has led to favourable conditions for the butterfly.