Fauna Flora Photography

European Skipper Thymelicus lineola

A small, orange butterfly, showing black antennae tips. It is a common butterfly in Southern Quebec although not endemic, introduced to Canada in the early 20th century.

Specs

Length3.5-4cm

Common Names

GermanSchwarzkolbiger Braun-Dickkopffalter
EnglishEuropean Skipper
FrenchHespérie du dactyle
SpanishDorada Línea Corta

Taxonomy

OrderLepidoptera
FamilyHesperiidae
SpeciesThymelicus lineola

How to Identify

There are no similar butterflies in the area. Characteristic for this species though is the orange color and the black antennae tips.

European Skipper (Thymelicus lineola) - Champ des Possibles - 2015-07-18

Where and When to Spot

I observed this species in almost every park around Montreal where there is a considerable area of unkempt grassy landscape with flowers.

Last updated on 2023-12-15. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.