Tuesday 30 July 2019

Essex Skipper new for the area

Finally caught up with Essex Skipper at Whitesprings Plantation off Flash Lane today. 
A bit like the inevitability of Red Kites breeding locally it has always been a question of when, rather than if Essex Skipper would turn up locally, as they have continued to spread northwards through the county.
I think the elevation of the areas bordering the moors has perhaps been a barrier or at least delayed their occurrence here when they are recorded further north in lowland locations.
This is my first record in the Matlock/ Bakewell area and I daresay that other have recorded them locally before me, I would be interested to hear of other records.

Essex Skipper
The most obvious differences from Small Skipper are the black 'dipped in ink' tips to the underside of the antennae which are orange in Small Skipper and the shorter sex brand on the wing which runs parallel to the wing edge in Essex Skipper but is longer and runs towards the edge of the wing in Small Skipper (compare with photos below)

Small Skipper
Essex Skipper NBN Atlas distribution map


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