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 193 - 216 of 4086 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 14, 2020
Submitted by: kristasessions
Region: Cortland County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 17, 2020
Observation date: Jul 12, 2020
Submitted by: Chris Blomme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 13, 2020
Observation date: Jun 28, 2020
Submitted by: Rjfischer
Region: Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 13, 2020
Observation date: Jul 07, 2019
Submitted by: MMarinacci
Region: Ogemaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 10, 2020
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: kathybrown
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 09, 2020
Observation date: Jul 01, 2020
Submitted by: Clare Holden
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: David Badger
Region: Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 05, 2020
Observation date: Jun 29, 2020
Submitted by: tozjohn
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 02, 2020
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 02, 2020
Observation date: Jun 25, 2020
Submitted by: Tony DeSantis
Region: Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 30, 2020
Observation date: Jun 27, 2020
Submitted by: kpatnode
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 29, 2020
Observation date: Jun 17, 2020
Submitted by: TRay
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 25, 2020
Observation date: Jun 18, 2020
Submitted by: rarecat
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 25, 2020
Observation date: Jun 23, 2020
Submitted by: kristasessions
Region: Cortland County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 23, 2020
Submitted by: David Badger
Region: Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 15, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Newaygo County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 21, 2020
Observation date: Jun 10, 2020
Submitted by: TRay
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 18, 2020
Observation date: Jun 10, 2020
Submitted by: TRay
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 18, 2020
Observation date: Jun 16, 2020
Submitted by: MSEmbeck
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 16, 2020
Observation date: Jun 09, 2020
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 14, 2020
Observation date: Jun 10, 2020
Submitted by: TRay
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 11, 2020
Observation date: May 06, 2013
Submitted by: cjbruchman
Region: McHenry County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 04, 2020
Observation date: Jul 14, 2019
Submitted by: ellenjones6
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Feb 16, 2020
Observation date: Jul 30, 2005
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Feb 04, 2020
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