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 1 - 24 of 4065 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 16, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 12, 2024
Observation date: Aug 04, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 07, 2024
Observation date: Jul 22, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Garfield County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 23, 2024
Observation date: Jul 28, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 22, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 21, 2024
Observation date: Aug 02, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Summit County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 19, 2024
Observation date: Aug 02, 2024
Submitted by: TLE613
Region: Woodford County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 03, 2024
Observation date: Jul 05, 2024
Submitted by: wingz2fly
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 16, 2024
Observation date: Jul 06, 2024
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: Clark County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 10, 2024
Observation date: Jul 02, 2024
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 05, 2024
Observation date: Jul 01, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 04, 2024
Observation date: Jun 23, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 02, 2024
Observation date: Jun 15, 2024
Submitted by: tjunderwood
Region: Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 01, 2024
Observation date: Jun 25, 2024
Submitted by: rocksnstars
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 30, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2018
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Will County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 29, 2024
Observation date: Jun 26, 2024
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 28, 2024
Observation date: Jun 25, 2024
Submitted by: trever
Region: Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 26, 2024
Observation date: Jun 21, 2024
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 25, 2024
Observation date: Jun 18, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 20, 2024
Observation date: Jun 15, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 16, 2024
Observation date: Jun 12, 2024
Submitted by: linnettse
Region: Putnam County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 12, 2024
Observation date: Jun 04, 2024
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 07, 2024
Observation date: Jul 12, 2023
Submitted by: RobinsonTwins
Region: Glacier County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 02, 2024
Observation date: Jul 06, 2023
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Lake County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 19, 2023
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