Essex Skipper (Butterflies of Fundy National Park of Canada / Les papillons du parc national du Canada Fundy)

Essex Skipper

Thymelicus lineola

Summary ³

The Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. In North America, it is known as the European Skipper.

General description ⁴

This is one of three plain orange skippers in our fauna, with only a small dark stigma dorsally on the males, and without a contrasting wing pattern ventrally. Dorsally, the wing margins are dark, and the darkness extends onto the apices of the wing veins. The wing fringe is orange. Oarisma garita has a white wing fringe, more diffuse dark wing margins dorsally, and light coloured wing veins ventrally. Atrytone logan is larger, with longer antennae, more distinct dark wing margins and dark wing veins dorsally, and a dorsal forewing cell-end bar. As well, note that Thymelicus is more prone to hovering in flight, rather than "skipping" in the fashion of the other two species.

Distribution ⁵

This is an introduced European species that most likely spread to North America as overwintering eggs in grass seed, and first detected at London, Ontario, in 1910. It is widely established in eastern Canada and the United States, with isolated colonies in the west, one of which became established in Edmonton in the 1980s and is still spreading outward from that centre.

Habitat ⁶

Open grassy areas, often disturbed, such as roadsides and hay fields.

Migration ⁷

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Flowering plants visited by thymelicus lineola in illinois ⁸

Thymelicus lineola Ochenheimer: Hesperiidae, Lepidoptera
(observations are from Catling, Stoutamire, Luer, and Small; this is the European Skipper)

Orchidaceae: Calopogon tuberosus exp fq (Lu, Sm), Cypripedium reginae exp np (Stm), Spiranthes lucida sn np (Ct), Spiranthes romanzoffiana sn np (Ct); Rosaceae: Spiraea alba sn (Sm)
Insect activities:
exp = explores the flower, but acquires neither nectar nor pollen
fq = frequent flower visitor (about 6 or more visits reported)
np = non-pollinating
sn = sucks nectar

Scientific observers:
(Ct) = P.M. Catling
(Lu) = C.A. Luer
(Sm) = E. Small
(Stm) = W.P. Stoutamire

Conservation status ⁹

As an introduced species, not of concern, although there is some evidence that this species might compete with and affect the behaviour of native Polites spp. in Ontario.

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Essex Skipper

Summary 3

General description 4

Distribution 5

Habitat 6

Migration 7

Flowering plants visited by thymelicus lineola in illinois 8

Conservation status 9