Essex skipper darker brown. Elongate chrysalids are yellowish-green, and each has a dark dorsal stripe seen in caterpillars. Essex skipper The Essex skipper ("Thymelicus lineola") is a butterfly in family Hesperiidae. In North America, it is known as the European skipper. With a wingspan of 2.5 to 2.9 cm, it is very similar in appearance to the small skipper "Thymelicus sylvestris". They can be told apart by the undersides of the tips of their antennae: the Essex skipper's antennae are black, whereas those of the small skipper are orange. This butterfly occurs throughout much of the Palaearctic region. Its range is from
Alpine grizzled skipper spring. Although some populations of Alpine grizzled skipper are in decline (especially in Austria) the IUCN lists the species as being of "least concern" as there are no identifiable threats to it at a continent-wide level. Alpine grizzled skipper The Alpine grizzled skipper ("Pyrgus andromedae") is a species of skipper (family Hesperiidae). This species is found up to fairly high altitudes in the Alps and Pyrenees and also at lower elevations in northern Scandinavia, where its range extends well into the Arctic Circle. It prefers damp habitats and is often found near to water. This is a medium-sized "Pyrgus" skipper