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.
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 337 - 360 of 4088 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 21, 2017
Submitted by: margueritehamilton
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 25, 2017
Observation date: Jun 06, 2017
Submitted by: SkrentnyJeff
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 24, 2017
Observation date: Jun 17, 2017
Submitted by: sharin
Region: Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 24, 2017
Observation date: Jun 22, 2017
Submitted by: monikawood
Region: Steuben County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 23, 2017
Observation date: Jun 20, 2017
Submitted by: davidboon
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 20, 2017
Observation date: Jun 11, 2017
Submitted by: julmast
Region: Elkhart County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Jun 12, 2017
Observation date: Jun 11, 2017
Submitted by: TSims
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 12, 2017
Observation date: Jun 28, 2016
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Apr 10, 2017
Observation date: Jul 01, 2016
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Apr 10, 2017
Observation date: Jun 10, 2016
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Apr 03, 2017
Observation date: Jun 10, 2016
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Apr 03, 2017
Observation date: Jun 11, 2016
Submitted by: JohnBoback
Region: Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 28, 2017
Observation date: Jul 25, 2014
Submitted by: juliereid
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 22, 2017
Observation date: Jul 21, 2015
Submitted by: Mike Hofmann
Region: Teton County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 20, 2016
Observation date: Aug 07, 2015
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Idaho County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 20, 2016
Observation date: Jun 17, 2016
Submitted by: johngor
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 05, 2016
Observation date: Aug 22, 2016
Submitted by: TSims
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 23, 2016
Observation date: Jul 25, 2016
Submitted by: davidboon
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 25, 2016
Observation date: Jul 03, 2016
Submitted by: davidboon
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 23, 2016
Observation date: Jul 01, 2016
Submitted by: davidboon
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 22, 2016
Observation date: Jul 20, 2016
Submitted by: pporonto
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 22, 2016
Observation date: Jun 20, 2016
Submitted by: Ryan D. Larson
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 21, 2016
Observation date: Jun 13, 2016
Submitted by: Ryan D. Larson
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 21, 2016
Observation date: Jun 26, 2016
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 21, 2016
- ‹ previous
- 15 of 171
- next ›