Essex Skipper
A photo inspired by Ray's post earlier today (see link in first comment box below). The Essex Skipper is not too difficult to distinguish from Small Skipper, IF (and it is a very big 'if') you can firstly find a potential candidate that is settled. Then you need to get close enough to either see or photograph the BLACK tips of the antennae, preferably from below. The black antennae tips are the primary id feature to distinguish from orange ones on Small Skipper. Essex Skippers are tiny insects, about the size of a thumbnail, so the whole exercise is very far from easy. This individual was photographed at the western edge of its range.
Essex Skipper
A photo inspired by Ray's post earlier today (see link in first comment box below). The Essex Skipper is not too difficult to distinguish from Small Skipper, IF (and it is a very big 'if') you can firstly find a potential candidate that is settled. Then you need to get close enough to either see or photograph the BLACK tips of the antennae, preferably from below. The black antennae tips are the primary id feature to distinguish from orange ones on Small Skipper. Essex Skippers are tiny insects, about the size of a thumbnail, so the whole exercise is very far from easy. This individual was photographed at the western edge of its range.