Essex Skipper
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Thymelicus lineola
Common & widespread in Britain.
Caterpillars are green, with yellowish incisions between their rings; each with a dorsal.
The Larvae feeds on Couch & Cock's-foot.
Very similar in appearance to the Small Skipper, Thymelicus sylvestris.
They can be told apart by the forward-facing flattish part of the antenna tip: in the Essex Skippers this face is black, whereas in the Small Skipper it is orange or brown.
In Males, there is a difference in the scent mark.
In Essex Skipper this is a fine, straight, short dark line on the forewing, parallel to the wing edge; in the Small Skipper males, this line is bolder and bent.
Flight period is July & August, overlapping with the Small Skipper.