Essex Skipper vs Glasswing Butterfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Essex Skipper | Glasswing Butterfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Thymelicus lineola | Greta oto |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Hesperiidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 26-30 mm wingspan | 56-61 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, western Asia (introduced to North America) | Central America, South 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.
Glasswing Butterfly
Remarkable for its transparent wings, created by nanopillar structures that reduce light reflection to just 2%. This makes it nearly invisible in flight through the rainforest.
Did You Know?
The glasswing butterflys transparent wings have anti-reflective nanopillars that inspired researchers to develop better anti-glare coatings for smartphone screens.