Butterfly ID
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Field guide · Norway
Skippers · Norway

Essex skipper

Thymelicus lineola

Essex skipper is a small, yellowish-brown moth with males having a narrow, black line of scales on their forewings. It is locally common in the southern part of Eastern Norway and has, in recent years, also become established along the Swedish border, and flies from July to the beginning of August.

Status in this countryCommon in NorwayLC (Least concern)
Essex skipper

Flight period

From July to the beginning of August.

Habitat

Heathlands, grasslands, and meadows, preferably on sandy soil. The adult butterfly often basks, with its hindwings fully spread and its forewings held at an upward angle.

Identifying features

Wingspan 22–27 mm. Both wings are yellowish-brown with brown-black dusting along the outer edge and on the ribs; the fringes are yellowish-white. In the male, the forewing has a narrow, black scent spot line.

Similar species

No confused species are described in the examined sources.

Distribution

Locally common in the southern part of Eastern Norway, from Halden in Østfold north to Kongsvinger in Hedmark, and west to Sigdal in Buskerud. It disappeared completely from our fauna by the end of the 1800s, but unexpectedly reappeared in Hokksund in 1977; since then it has expanded in Buskerud, Vestfold, and Oppland, and from around 2010 it has appeared from Sweden and established itself along the Swedish border, north to Kongsvinger.

Biology

The larva feeds on timothy grass, Yorkshire fog (Holcus), Elymus repens, foxtail barley, and other grass species.