Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola) Family: Hesperiidae Checklist: 57.005 |
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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. |
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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 |
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Life Cycle |
Adults are usually on the wing during July and August. The species over-winters as an ovum. |
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Larval Foodplants |
Larval foodplants are Cocks-foot (Dactylis glomerata), Creeping Soft-grass (Holcus mollis) and probably other grasses. |
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Nectar Sources |
Adults often visit Marjoram, thistles and knapweeds. |
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UK Conservation Status |
Least Concern |
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Earliest UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 18th June |
Mean UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 28th June |
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Distribution and Sites |
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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. | |
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Related Species |
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