Butterflies of Keele
Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola
This is another butterfly success story for, before the 2000s, you would not have found this species in Staffordshire. Now it has spread as far as Keele with the first record being from Clock House Drive on 23/07/2012. Further records include 2/3 on 17th July 2014 Nick Pomiankowski, 23rd July DWE.
It can be confused with the Small Skipper but the tips of the antennae in this species look like they have been dipped in ink, whereas on Small Skipper they are orangey-brown.
It can be found in open, grassy areas; the larvae feed on various grasses.