Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)

Family: Hesperiidae Checklist: 57.005

 
Description
Wing span: 26-30 mm. The Essex Skipper is very similar in appearance to the Small Skipper, and was not recognised as a separate species until 1889. It can be distinguished from the Small Skipper by the black undersides to its antennae (orange in the Small Skipper), and that the male's sex brand is short and doesn't cross a vein (it does in the Small). It is widespread in south-east England, and has been spreading north and westwards. Essex Skippers live in a variety of habitats where there is long grass, including road verges, marshes, chalk grassland, waste ground and woodland clearings.
 
Images (click to enlarge)
Essex Skipper ♂ © David Hastings
Essex Skipper ♂ underside © David Hastings
Essex Skipper ♀ © David Hastings
Essex Skipper ♀ underside © David Hastings
Male Male underside Female Female underside
 
Life Cycle
Adults are usually on the wing during July and August. The species over-winters as an ovum.
 
Larval Foodplants
Larval foodplants are Cocks-foot (Dactylis glomerata), Creeping Soft-grass (Holcus mollis) and probably other grasses.
 
Nectar Sources
Adults often visit Marjoram, thistles and knapweeds.
 
UK Conservation Status
Least Concern
 
Earliest UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 18th June
Mean UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 28th June
 
 
Distribution and Sites
 

Key
1 sighting 2-9 max seen 10+ max seen
This species is a habitat generalist, so can be found almost anywhere in the UTB region.

 
Related Species
All Species