Pea Weevil vs Essex Skipper
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pea Weevil | Essex Skipper |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bruchus pisorum | Thymelicus lineola |
| Order | Coleoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Chrysomelidae | Hesperiidae |
| Size | 4-5 mm | 26-30 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Farmland | Grasslands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Worldwide in pea-growing regions | Europe, western Asia (introduced to North America) |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Pea Weevil
A small brownish beetle that lays eggs on developing pea pods. The larva eats its way into a single pea and develops entirely inside it.
Did You Know?
Each larva consumes only one pea, leaving a perfectly round exit hole when it emerges.
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.