# Thymelicus

Thymelicus, also known as the skipper butterfly, is a small and lively insect that flits around flowers. They are known for their quick, darting flight and beautiful colors.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Thymelicus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Thymelicus.sylvestris.1.jpg&width=800)

Photo: James K. Lindsey, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thymelicus.sylvestris.1.jpg)

## Appearance

The Thymelicus is a small butterfly with a robust, tawny orange-brown body and wings. Its distinctive antennae are clubbed with a tiny hook at the tip, setting it apart from other butterflies. Some species have a dark scent-mark stripe on the male forewing.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Lepidoptera
- **Family:** Hesperiidae
- **Genus:** Thymelicus

## Interesting facts

- Skipper butterflies got their name because of their super speedy, "skipping" way of flying!
- Their antennae have a unique little hook at the very end, making them look like miniature golf clubs.
- Thymelicus caterpillars build cozy shelters by rolling up grass blades with silk to stay safe.
- When a Thymelicus butterfly rests, it often holds its forewings and hindwings at different angles, like a jet plane!

## Special abilities

- **Agile Acrobat:** Thymelicus can dart through meadows with a fast, skipping flight, thanks to powerful flight muscles allowing quick changes in direction.
- **Proboscis Power:** Thymelicus has a long, coiled proboscis that allows them to reach deep into flowers to sip nectar, providing essential energy.
- **Grass Camouflage:** Thymelicus caterpillars can blend perfectly with grass blades due to their green bodies, helping them hide from hungry predators.
- **Wing Heater:** Thymelicus can angle its wings to capture sunlight, warming up its flight muscles for rapid take-off and quick escapes.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 25-30 mm
- **Size:** 10-18 mm
- **Lifespan:** 10-25 days
- **Flight Speed:** 15-25 km/h
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

Adult Thymelicus sip nectar from flowers, while their caterpillars munch on various types of grass.

- **Age differences:** Larvae (caterpillars) feed on specific grass blades, while adult butterflies primarily consume nectar from flowers.
- **Primary Foods:** nectar, False Oat-grass, Cock's-foot, Knapweed, Thistle
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** [Creeping Thistle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/creeping-thistle) (*Cirsium arvense*) — Adults sip nectar, helping spread pollen between flowers.
- **Eats:** Cock's-foot (*Dactylis glomerata*) — Caterpillars feed on the leaves of this common grass species.
- **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Birds often prey on adult butterflies and their larvae.
- **Eaten by:** Flower Crab Spider (*Misumena vatia*) — Spiders camouflage on flowers, ambushing nectar-feeding butterflies.

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always watch butterflies from a distance and don't try to catch them.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Thymelicus?

Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Thymelicus's wingspan?

25-30 mm

### How big is Thymelicus?

10-18 mm

### How long does Thymelicus live?

10-25 days

### How fast can Thymelicus fly?

15-25 km/h

### What does Thymelicus eat?

Adult Thymelicus sip nectar from flowers, while their caterpillars munch on various types of grass.

### Where is Thymelicus usually found?

Grasslands

### How does Thymelicus hunt?

Foraging

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Thymelicus: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/thymelicus)