Essex or small?

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:30 pm

I've put this down as Small... ?agree or not?? ( Cotswolds Aug 07)

Post by **Padfield** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:58 am

I'm with you on that, Paul!

Guy

eccles · Post by **eccles** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:50 pm

Agreed; you can just see the lighter brown tip to the antenna. I reckon it's a female.

Perseus · Post by **Perseus** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:37 pm

I can't tell, but I'd go for an Essex

http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Skippers.html

Post by **Padfield** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 12:14 pm

We've been here before!!

I still believe it's small skipper, but I definitely wouldn't fight over it.

I think the undersides of small skippers' antennae can be quite dark, but always with a different tone, from buff to reddish, as in Paul's insect, above. I'm pretty sure the pictures below are of small skipper then Essex skipper:

(Small skipper)

(Essex skipper)

Guy

Perseus · Post by **Perseus** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 2:53 pm

Hello,

I can't ID these at all in most cases.

If you are sure, maybe you could help me out on this page.

http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Skippers.html

But wait until you have more time.

I like to have the dates and habitats as well when identifying skippers. Not to help me ID them, but when other people do, I can make a note of the habitats. My inaccurate observation indicate that Essex Skippers appear after the Samll Skippers by two weeks with an overlap. Essex Skippers do not apppear to be found on the local downs, but only on the levels, but I am far from sure.

Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2007.html

Cheers

Andy Horton
glaucus@hotmail.com
Adur Valley Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2006.html
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2007.html
Adur Valley Nature Notes: December 2007
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Dec2007.html

Adur Valley & Downs Gallery
http://www.flickr.com/groups/adur/pool/

View and upload your Sussex Wildlife Images to:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/sussexwildlife/

Perseus · Post by **Perseus** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 2:53 pm

Hello,

I can't ID these at all in most cases.

If you are sure, maybe you could help me out on this page.

http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Skippers.html

But wait until you have more time.

I like to have the dates and habitats as well when identifying skippers. Not to help me ID them, but when other people do, I can make a note of the habitats. My inaccurate observation indicate that Essex Skippers appear after the Small Skippers by two weeks with an overlap. Essex Skippers do not appear to be found on the local downs, but only on the levels, but I am far from sure.

Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2007.html

Cheers

Andy Horton
glaucus@hotmail.com
Adur Valley Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2006.html
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2007.html
Adur Valley Nature Notes: December 2007
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Dec2007.html

Adur Valley & Downs Gallery
http://www.flickr.com/groups/adur/pool/

View and upload your Sussex Wildlife Images to:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/sussexwildlife/

Perseus · Post by **Perseus** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 3:30 pm

Post by **Padfield** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:57 pm

For my money, that last picture you posted is an Essex skipper.

I've had a quick look at your skippers page and can be confident of all the males, at least! But you have probably identified those already. I also have a strong idea about some of the females.

The picture marked 6th July is a male Essex skipper, identified by the sex brand.
Immediately below this picture is another Essex skipper, I think.
The first insect marked 26 June 2003 Lancing Ring meadows is definitely a male small skipper, again given away by the sex brand. To the right of that picture is a close-up with the same description, which looks to me like Essex, but if they are the same insect then it has to be small skipper, because there is no doubt about the first ID.
15 July 2004: Mill Hill Upper Slopes is definitely Essex.
6 July 2004: Malthouse Meadows is definitely small.
6 July 2004: Slonk Hill South is definitely Essex.

I have opinions about the others, but not so I can say 'definitely'!

By the way, I've much enjoyed your ecological notes on various species, Perseus! I haven't commented on them because all my recent notes for these species relate to Switzerland, where things are evidently a little different (so small heath, for instance, is quite characteristic of hay meadows here, which may grow very tall).

I couldn't follow the links to your ID points for these butterflies - they didn't go anywhere.

Guy

Perseus · Post by **Perseus** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 5:10 pm

I had the illustrated one above down as an Essex, but I was unsure about all the others. I will have a look later tonight.