Small or Essex skipper

[agrumpycow]

I went out with my camera today to try and catch some of the butterflies I'd seen while working at the nature reserve on Sunday, I should really have picked a slight less windy day but got a few nevertheless.

Just thought I'd check this one before I attempt to add it to the Gallery. I think it's a small skipper but got confused looking up the differences between them and the Essex skipper!

[djackso]

The ends of the antennae look dark so I'm going to guess Essex skipper, but I'm not at all sure. DJ

[GuyF]

It's a Small Skipper, on the second shot you can see that the undersides of the antennae are pale, if it was an Essex these would be jet black.
Guy

[djackso]

Ahh, that's cleared that up! TY

[GuyF]

Originally Posted by djackso

Ahh, that's cleared that up! TY

No worries, they're very easy to get confused. I managed this shot the other day of an Essex Skipper showing the black underside to the antennae tips:

Small Skippers can have very variable antennae, they often have black on the upperside and they can have dark brown on the underside of the tip, but they never have completely black tips!
Guy

[djackso]

Originally Posted by GuyF

No worries, they're very easy to get confused. I managed this shot the other day of an Essex Skipper showing the black underside to the antennae tips:

Small Skippers can have very variable antennae, they often have black on the upperside and they can have dark brown on the underside of the tip, but they never have completely black tips!
Guy

Yes - I was trawling through Google getting thoroughly confused - I like your Essex shot BTW

[agrumpycow]

Thanks for the help, these id's can get very confusing at times!

[leifus]

i agree with guyF small skipper