Essex Skipper Butterfly

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Essex Skipper - Thymelicus lineola.jpg
Scientific Name: 
Thymelicus lineola
Wingspan: 
28mm (1 1/8in)
Confusion Species: 
Small Skipper
Description: 

Orange brown - with the male having a small black line on its upperwings. Can also be identified with its antennal club which is black.

Distribution: 

Essex and along the Thames Estuary towards the London Suburbs. Colonies also exist in the Cotswolds alongside newly constructed bypasses and are believed to have been introduced when the verges were seeded with grass and wildflowers seeds originating from elsewhere where this butterfly is found.

Habitat: 

The Essex Skipper is found in tall, dry grasslands in open sunny situations, especially roadside verges, woodland rides and acid grasslands, as well as coastal marshes.

Diet: 
The main species used is Cock's-foot, although the butterfly may use several other grasses including Creeping Soft-grass, Common Couch, Timothy, Meadow Foxtail, False Brome, and Tor-grass. It rarely uses Yorkshire-fog, the preferred foodplant of the Small Skipper.
Status: 
  • UK BAP status: not listed
  • Butterfly Conservation priority: low
  • European threat status: not threatened
Did You Know?: 

Similar species Small skipper.