Skipper ID

[Hoggers]

Hi guys, have I correctly identified these two Skippers?

Small Skipper

Essex Skipper

I took the photos this morning, both butterflies were in the same general area ( a patch of waste ground close to my home in Kent )

Cheers

[kevling]

Hi,

The Essex skipper is identifiable by the tip of the antenna being black, as opposed to the Small skipper that is orange.
I would certainly agree with your conclusion.

Regards
Kev Ling

[Padfield]

I agree. The first two are indisputably small skippers and from what can be seen in this picture the third appears to be Essex skipper. That said, since it is a male, the briefest glimpse of the forewing uppersides would have turned probability into certainty. Antennae can be misleading (both species are given to melanism of the antennae), the shade of the underside forewing apex (in the field sometimes a very useful feature) can be obscured by the camera and/or lighting but the shape of the sex brand is constant and absolutely diagnostic. My recomendation with these skippers, for the purpose of transects/records, is first to try to see the critical uppersides (and record field notes) and only then to go for the photo.

Guy

[essexbuzzard]

I agree with Guy. The third picture is inconclusive without the front antennae tips or sex brand. First two definate Small Skippers.

[Hoggers]

Thanks to all those who helped me out on this: I hadn't realised the importance of the male sex brand. I'll keep a look out for it in future.

[MikeOxon]

I'm glad the experts find this 'Small/Essex' thing so difficult, as I am frequently confused. At first glance, your last photo looks 'Essex-like' but the farther antenna seems to have a chisel-shaped tip, which, I think, points towards Small. In the past, I have confidently labelled many photos as Essex, only to have doubts creep in later! I wonder what the significance of the different antenna tips is to the butterflies themselves. Perhaps they find ID difficult too, and investigate each other's antennae?

Mike