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Thymelicus lineola

(European Skipper)

Overview

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Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in English:

European Skipper, Essex Skipper

Common Names in French:

Hesp

Description

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Family Hesperiidae

'The Hesperiidae are members of the Superfamily Hesperioidea. Worldwide in distribution, skippers are richest in the tropics. More than 3,500 species are described, with approximately 275 in North America, many of which are found only in Arizona and Texas. Most skippers are small to medium, usually orange, brown, black, white, or gray. A few have iridescent colors. Skippers have large eyes, short antennae (often with hooked clubs), stout bodies, and three pairs of walking legs . Their flight is often rapid, making wing movement appear blurred. Adults of most species have long probicscises and feed on floral nectar, but some also take up nutrients from bird droppings. Males have scent scales found in modified forewing patches. Males of most species locate mates by perching (grass and giant-skippers), though some patrol, especially in the open-winged skippers. Globular eggs are laid singly.

'[1]

Subfamily Hesperiinae

The grass skippers are members of the Family Hesperiidae. Distributed worldwide, they comprise more than 2,000 species, most of which are found in the American tropics. The small to medium-sized adults usually have abruptly angled antennae with an apiculus at the tip . Adults of many temperate species are predominantly orange, while brown is the most common color of the tropical species. Male forewings usually have a brand or stigma with specialized scales . Most species have long proboscises and are avid flower-visitors. Adults flight is rapid, and perching posture is unique: the hindwings are opened at a wider angle than the forewings. Males of most species perch while looking for mates. Caterpillars feed on monocotyledons (grasses and allied plants ) and live in silken leaf nests that sometimes extend underground. Grass skippers typically overwinter as caterpillars within their shelters .[2]

Physical Description

Species Thymelicus lineola

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. (ref. 105035)

Size/Age/Growth

Wing span : 1 - 1 1/8 inches (2.5 - 2.9 cm). (ref. 105035)

Habitat

This is a denizen of pastures and other fields , mainly where there are non-native grasses. The NC records are from somewhat moist pastures with tall grasses and red clovers. (ref. 104771)

Open grassy places including meadows, hayfields, pastures, abandoned homesteads, grassy road edges . (ref. 105035)

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 2,658 meters (0 to 8,720 feet).[3]

Biology

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Diet

Timothy (Phleum pratense), an introduced grass , is the usual host, but other grasses are certainly used. These skippers often nectar, at low plants . Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is the main nectar source in NC. (ref. 104771)

Caterpillar hosts: Timothy (Phleum pratense) and other grasses. (ref. 105035)

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. (ref. 105035)

Reproduction

One brood from mid-May to mid-July. (ref. 105035)

Behavior

Flight period: A single brood; the NC dates fall between June 6 and July 13. These dates are in line with the flight period in WV: "the first week of June through mid- to late July" (Allen 1997). (ref. 104771)

Taxonomy

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Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Thymelicus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 4 species and subspecies in this genus:

T. acteon (Lulworth Skipper) · T. lineola (European Skipper) · T. lineola lineola (European Skipper) · T. sylvestris (Small Skipper)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 26, 2008:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/taxonomy?f=19&sci=Hesperiidae&com=Skippers [back]
  2. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Stinga&search=Search [back]
  3. Mean = 129.570 meters (425.098 feet), Standard Deviation = 165.420 based on 5,953 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 2012-07-26