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 145 - 168 of 4082 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 03, 2021
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Mackinac County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 13, 2021
Observation date: Jul 02, 2021
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Crawford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 13, 2021
Observation date: Jul 02, 2021
Submitted by: Butterflycindy61
Region: Ravalli County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 05, 2021
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 10, 2021
Observation date: Jul 07, 2021
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 08, 2021
Observation date: Jun 27, 2021
Submitted by: crjenkins
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2021
Submitted by: Cormath
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 05, 2021
Observation date: Jun 30, 2021
Submitted by: Sarahchristinel...
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 01, 2021
Submitted by: crjenkins
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 02, 2021
Observation date: Jul 02, 2021
Submitted by: kcdemille
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 02, 2021
Observation date: Jul 02, 2021
Submitted by: kcdemille
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 02, 2021
Observation date: Jun 27, 2021
Submitted by: Jacksonfarme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 28, 2021
Observation date: Jun 20, 2021
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 21, 2021
Observation date: Jun 18, 2021
Submitted by: Cardinal52
Region: Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 20, 2021
Observation date: Jun 18, 2021
Submitted by: Cardinal52
Region: Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 20, 2021
Observation date: Jun 19, 2021
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Lake County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 20, 2021
Observation date: Jun 01, 2021
Submitted by: Tom Raub
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 18, 2021
Observation date: Jun 14, 2021
Submitted by: kristasessions
Region: Cortland County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 18, 2021
Observation date: Jun 11, 2021
Submitted by: mbroen
Region: St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 14, 2021
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 15, 2021
Observation date: Jun 14, 2021
Submitted by: beastbreath
Region: Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 15, 2021
Observation date: Jun 13, 2021
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 14, 2021
Observation date: Jun 11, 2021
Submitted by: NNing
Region: Geauga County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Jun 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 15, 2020
Submitted by: mbroen
Region: St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Mar 27, 2021
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