Wednesday 9 July 2014

Thymelicus sylvestris or Thymelicus lineola.

Today at Wheelers Bay both Essex and Small Skippers were to be seen sharing the same habitat at the foot of the cliffs.
These two species are very similar and apparently there are several minor differences which will enable the observer to tell one from the other.I prefer to take a close look at the antennae,as the Essex has a distinctive black tip on both whereas the Small Skipper has mainly dull brown-orange tips.On the Essex the black extends to underside of the antenna tips.
This difference can be seen (I hope) in the following photos taken today of the butterflies at the Bay.The first two examples are of an Essex and the last two a Small Skipper






No comments:

Post a Comment