Essex Skipper vs Burrowing Mayfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Essex Skipper | Burrowing Mayfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Thymelicus lineola | Hexagenia limbata |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Ephemeroptera |
| Family | Hesperiidae | Ephemeridae |
| Size | 26-30 mm wingspan | 18-32 mm body |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, western Asia (introduced to North America) | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Essex Skipper
A small orange-brown skipper so similar to the small skipper that it was not recognised as a separate British species until 1889. The undersides of its antenna tips are black, not orange.
Did You Know?
It was overlooked in Britain for over a century because it was confused with the nearly identical small skipper.
Burrowing Mayfly
Creates massive synchronized emergences so dense they appear on weather radar. Billions emerge simultaneously from lake bottoms where nymphs burrowed for up to two years.
Did You Know?
Mayfly emergences along the Mississippi River are so massive they show up on Doppler weather radar — billions of insects rising simultaneously look like approaching thunderstorms.