Essex skipper 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 southern Scandinavia through Europe to North Africa and east to Central Asia It was only identified
Lulworth skipper in) long larva spins a compact cocoon on the site of the eggshell. In this, it will overwinter until around the third week of April, at which point it will eat its way out by making a small hole in the side of the sheath. The caterpillar will then search for tender Tor-grass blades and feed upon them by chewing out notches from the margin. During this time, it will live separately, within a tube composed of the two edges of a blade bound by cords of silk. Fresh tubes will be made as the caterpillar grows larger. Lulworth skipper