European Skipper
Thymelicus lineola (Ochsenheimer, 1808)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Wings are brassy burnt orange; upperside of both wings with black borders and black on the outer portions of the veins. The male forewing has a narrow black stigma. A pale form (pallida) is very rare.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/8 inches (2.5 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: To find receptive females, males patrol grassy areas with a low meandering flight. Females lay eggs in strings on the host plant stem; the eggs overwinter and hatch the following spring. Caterpillars eat leaves and live in shelters of leaves tied together with silk. Adult skippers roost at night on grass stalks and in the morning bask with their wings at a 70 degree angle.
Flight: One brood from mid-May to mid-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Timothy (Phleum pratense) and other grasses.
Adult Food: Nectar from low-growing flowers including orange hawkweed, thistles, ox-eye daisy, fleabane, white clover, red clover, selfheal, Deptford pink, common milkweed, and swamp milkweed.
Habitat: Open grassy places including meadows, hayfields, pastures, abandoned homesteads, grassy road edges.
Range: This skipper was introduced accidently to North America in 1910 through London, Ontario. Eastern population: Newfoundland west to eastern North Dakota, south to southern Illinois and western South Carolina. Western population: western Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia. The range is still expanding, perhaps due to the relocation of eggs in hay shipments.
Conservation: Not required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Caterpillars of the European skipper can be pests on timothy grass.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 289 - 312 of 4088 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 21, 2018
Submitted by: brainerd
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 21, 2018
Observation date: Jun 19, 2018
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 20, 2018
Observation date: Jun 23, 2017
Submitted by: UnidentifiedFlu...
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jun 19, 2018
Observation date: Jul 09, 2017
Submitted by: shsater
Region: Boundary County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jun 19, 2018
Observation date: Jul 09, 2017
Submitted by: shsater
Region: Boundary County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jun 19, 2018
Observation date: Jun 18, 2018
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Eaton County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 18, 2018
Observation date: Jun 18, 2018
Submitted by: tlwilson1103
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 18, 2018
Observation date: Jun 16, 2018
Submitted by: johngor
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 16, 2018
Observation date: Jun 11, 2018
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 14, 2018
Observation date: Jun 08, 2018
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 12, 2018
Observation date: Jun 28, 2006
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 12, 2018
Observation date: Jul 16, 2017
Submitted by: Nick K
Region: Marion County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Apr 14, 2018
Observation date: Jun 23, 2017
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Feb 19, 2018
Observation date: Jun 14, 2017
Submitted by: dpgbfly1
Region: Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 29, 2018
Observation date: Jun 26, 2017
Submitted by: dpgbfly1
Region: Isanti County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 29, 2018
Observation date: Jul 05, 2011
Submitted by: David M. Gascoigne
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jan 04, 2018
Observation date: Jun 11, 2017
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 27, 2017
Observation date: Jun 21, 2017
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 27, 2017
Observation date: Jun 23, 2017
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 22, 2017
Observation date: Jun 20, 2017
Submitted by: WBwatcher
Region: Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 22, 2017
Observation date: Jun 30, 2017
Submitted by: tlmiller11
Region: Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 17, 2017
Observation date: Jul 02, 2017
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 17, 2017
Observation date: Jun 30, 2017
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 17, 2017
Observation date: Jun 17, 2017
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 07, 2017
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