Essex Skipper
Thymelicus lineola
National Status
A butterfly of south and south-east England, range expanding. Population trend 10 years to 2016 -66%; since 1976 -88%.
West Midlands Status
Found in all four counties with its stronghold in Worcestershire, range expanding.
Habitat
Warm, grassy areas such as woodland rides, meadows and roadside verges.
Caterpillar Food Plant
The primary larval foodplant is Cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata). Common Couch (Elytrigia repens), Creeping Soft-grass (Holcus mollis), False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum), Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis), Timothy (Phleum pratense) and Tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum) are also used
Life Cycle
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Egg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Pupa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adult | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flight Period
Early July to August.
Distribution Map
Hotspots
Any area of open dry grassland.