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 121 - 144 of 4082 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 28, 2018
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Garrett County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 05, 2021
Observation date: Jun 24, 2016
Submitted by: Falcontennis
Region: Marquette County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 28, 2021
Observation date: Jun 27, 2019
Submitted by: LadyAshleyR
Region: Garrett County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 03, 2019
Submitted by: LadyAshleyR
Region: Garrett County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Jun 26, 2021
Submitted by: amparrish15
Region: McHenry County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 18, 2021
Observation date: Jul 28, 2020
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Aug 08, 2021
Submitted by: bellhanley
Region: Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 02, 2021
Observation date: Jul 01, 2021
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Schoolcraft County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 26, 2021
Observation date: Jul 28, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 10, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 22, 2021
Observation date: Jul 10, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 22, 2021
Observation date: Jul 10, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 22, 2021
Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: Kzfisherman
Region: McHenry County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jul 21, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2021
Submitted by: Jessica Howell
Region: Harding County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 19, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2021
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 18, 2021
Observation date: Jul 13, 2021
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 18, 2021
Observation date: Jul 13, 2021
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 18, 2021
Observation date: Jun 25, 2021
Submitted by: Captaintetanus
Region: Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 23, 2020
Submitted by: dravland
Region: Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Jul 13, 2021
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Aug 11, 2020
Submitted by: S_Gucciardo
Region: Washington County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Aug 11, 2020
Submitted by: S_Gucciardo
Region: Washington County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 20, 2021
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 14, 2021
Observation date: Jul 03, 2021
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Chippewa County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 13, 2021
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