• Butterflies
• Dragonflies
• Damselflies
• Tiger beetles
• Hike with Mike

• The butterflies:
• Skippers
  • Spread-wing Skippers
  • Skipperlings
  • Grass-Skippers
• Grass-Skippers
  • Swarthy Skipper
  • Least Skipper
  • Poweshiek Skipperling
  • European Skipper
  • Fiery Skipper
  • Common Branded Skipper
  • Ottoe Skipper
  • Leonard’s Skipper
  • Cobweb Skipper
  • Indian Skipper
  • Peck’s Skipper
  • Tawny-edged Skipper
  • Crossline Skipper
  • Long Dash
  • Northern Broken-Dash
  • Little Glassywing
  • Sachem
  • Delaware Skipper
  • Byssus Skipper
  • Mulberry Wing
  • Hobomok Skipper
  • Broad-winged Skipper
  • Dion Skipper
  • Black Dash
  • Two-spotted Skipper
  • Dun Skipper
  • Dusted Skipper
  • Pepper and Salt Skipper
  • Common Roadside-Skipper
  • Eufala Skipper
  • Arogos Skipper

European Skipper

(Thymelicus lineola)

This species was introduced into Canada in 1910 and is now found throughout all the Great Lake states. In Wisconsin it can be found throughout most of the state except maybe the westernmost counties, but it is likely that it will also increase its distribution to include these counties. This species is most impressive for its occasional abundance, far greater than that of other skippers in the northern states. The record high for this species on an NABA count is 55,340 and each year the high count is well into the thousands. The host plant for this species is timothy, an introduced species that is found throughout the state.

Identifying characteristics: The European Skipper is an orange skipper with a very thin black margin, slightly darkened veins near the margins and a very thin, black stigma in the male. Below it is basically orange with various amounts of whitening throughout both the upper and the lower wings.

Similar species: The Delaware Skipper is similar; indeed, I misidentified the first European Skipper I ran across in Waushara County as a Delaware Skipper until I looked at my photos and noticed that it didn’t look quite right. The Delaware Skipper is slightly larger, with longer antennae, and has a wider black margin. The male Delaware Skipper also has an obvious black cell end bar and the female is even darker above. Below it is completely orange/yellow with no whitening. The European Skipper is smaller, with very short antennae, a very thin black margin, only a very thin stigma on the male otherwise it has essentially no other markings above. Below the European Skipper has a whitening that makes it very different looking than any other skipper in Wisconsin.

Habitat: Old fields, roadsides, and open areas with timothy, the main host plant of this species.

Flight: This species is single brooded and flies from early June through late July.

Abundance: This species is widespread throughout Wisconsin, but seems to occur in larger numbers in the northern part of the state. This species can become very abundant.

Recent European Skipper Sightings

Date seen	County	Reported by
08–08–2008	Dane	Jorgen Goderstad
08–04–2008	Dane	Jorgen Goderstad
08–02–2008	Bayfield	Ryan Brady

Submit a European Skipper sighting »