Friday, 3 September, 2010 homebutterfliesmothseventspressrecordingprojectsreservemembershipmagazinedownloadaboutcontactlinks Butterflies of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola The Essex Skipper and Small Skipper are almost identical in appearance which often makes identification in the field extremely difficult, even for the experienced lepidopterist as they are often found living in the same habitats and on the wing at similar times. The Essex Skipper has a distinctive glossy black tip to its antennae while the Small Skipper has dull brown/orange tips. The adult butterflies spend much of their time basking or resting on grass stems in typical 'golden skipper' style and can be seen from early June until late August although numbers have decreased dramatically by mid August. Larval Food plants Cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata) May also use Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus). Habitat Requirements The Essex Skipper is found in tall, dry grasslands in open sunny locations. It is commonly found on disused railways and roadside verges where the larval foodplant grows. Warwickshire Status Resident Where to see the Essex Skipper Other Species Please select an alternative species from the list below. Bath White Black Hairstreak Black-veined White Brimstone Brown Argus Brown Hairstreak Camberwell Beauty Chalkhill Blue Chequered Skipper Clouded Yellow Comma Common Blue Dappled White Dark Green Fritillary Dingy Skipper Duke of Burgundy Essex Skipper Gatekeeper Geranium Bronze Green Hairstreak Green-veined White Grizzled Skipper High Brown Fritillary Holly Blue Large Skipper Large Tortoiseshell Large White Long-tailed Blue Map Marbled White Marsh Fritillary Mazarine Blue Meadow Brown Orange-tip Painted Lady Pale Clouded Yellow Peacock Pearl-bordered Fritillary Purple Emperor Purple Hairstreak Red Admiral Ringlet Silver-studded Blue Silver-washed Fritillary Small Blue Small Copper Small Heath Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Small Skipper Small Tortoiseshell Small White Speckled Wood Swallowtail Wall Brown White Admiral White-letter Hairstreak Wood White © Keith Warmington First Sightings First sighting dates are based on records of Essex Skipper submitted online. Please note that these dates are not updated retrospectively to include records submitted to the branch recorder in other forms. 12/07/2010 - Snitterfield Bushes Glider Club field / Kineton fleabane site 02/07/2009 - National Herb Centre 18/07/2008 - National Herb Centre and College Farm 08/07/2007 - Ryton Wood ©   © Adult Flight Times The flight chart below is based on observations of the adult Essex Skipper in Warwickshire between 2005 and 2008. Peak periods are shown in dark green. Warwickshire Distribution Maps base on Vice County (CV38) which includes Coventry and Solihull Distribution of the Essex Skipper during the indicated period. Key to Warwickshire Maps: sightings 12-910+       2007 Distribution Data (1yr)   2008 available soon   2009 Distribution Data (1yr)   2000-09 Distribution Data (10yr) © Butterfly Conservation WarwickshirePrivacy and Copyright Statement Butterfly Conservation is a non-profit-making company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468) Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)   Web site designed and maintained by Steven Cheshire