UK Butterflies - Dingy Skipper

Wingspan
27 - 34mm

Dingy Skipper

Erynnis tages

e-RIN-iss
TAY-jeez

Linnaeus, 1758

Ref: 1532

Superfamily:	Hesperioidea
Family:	Hesperiidae
Subfamily:	Pyrginae
Genus:	Erynnis
Subgenus:
Species:	tages
Subspecies:	tages (Linnaeus, 1758)
	baynesi (Huggins, 1956)

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Introduction
Distribution
Annual Cycle
Habitat
Larval Foodplants
Nectar Sources

Imago
Ovum
Larva
Pupa
Similar Species
Videos

Sites
Conservation Status
Links
References


Male	Male Underside	Female	Female Underside

	Introduction

Despite its name, a freshly-emerged Dingy Skipper reveals a subtle pattern of browns and greys that is quite beautiful. However, this butterfly does live up to its name as scales are lost over time, resulting in a lacklustre and drab appearance.

Subspecies: tages

This subspecies is found in most of the British Isles.

Subspecies: baynesi

This subspecies is found in western Ireland in the Burren and south-east Galway. This subspecies differs from the tages subspecies by having a brownish black upperside and light markings that are very pale.

	Distribution

This is our most widely-distributed skipper, despite its decline due to changes in farming practice. Colonies can be found throughout the British Isles, including northern Scotland, and this is the only skipper found in Ireland where, although scarce, is found on outcrops of limestone. This butterfly’s strongholds, however, are in central and southern England. This butterfly lives in discrete colonies with little interchange between them.

	Annual Cycle

The butterfly is on the wing in May and June and, in favourable years, there may be a partial second brood.

Subspecies: tages

Subspecies: baynesi

	Habitat

The butterfly is found in warm open areas such as south-facing chalk and limestone downland, open hillsides, railway embankments, dunes, cliffs and abandoned quarries. It can also be found at the ends of woodland as well as in woodland clearings and rides.

	Larval Foodplants

The main larval foodplant is Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus) and Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) are also used.

	Nectar Sources

The main nectar sources are Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Bugle (Ajuga reptans), Buttercups (Ranunculus spp.), Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi) and Vetches (Vicia spp.).

	Imago

Like all skippers, the Dingy Skipper has an extremely fast flight that can be difficult to follow as it flits along, close to the ground. The butterfly is a warmth-loving species, and spends long periods basking on bare earth or a stone that has been baked by the sun. The butterfly prefers to nectar on yellow flowers and has a preference for flowers of Bird's-foot Trefoil, Horseshoe Vetch, buttercup and hawkweeds. In the late afternoon, the butterflies gather to roost on dead flowers or grass heads, where they take on a moth-like pose, with wings wrapped around the flower head.

Subspecies: tages


Photo © Paul	Photo © Vince Massimo 31-May-2005	Photo © Vince Massimo 22-May-2005	Photo © Pete Eeles 31-May-2006	Photo © Pete Eeles 10-May-2009

Photo © Pete Eeles 10-May-2009	Photo © Pete Eeles 10-May-2009	Photo © Pete Eeles 02-Jun-2007	Photo © Pete Eeles 10-May-2006	Photo © Trevor Sawyer

Photo © Wayne Clinch	Photo © Nick Sampford 12-May-2002

Subspecies: baynesi


Photo © Adrian Riley	Photo © Graham Smith

	Aberrations

Description to be completed

	Ovum

Eggs are laid singly at the base of leaflets and are greenish-white when first laid, later changing to orange.


Photo © Reg Fry	Photo © Reg Fry	Photo © Brian Clegg

	Larva

Eggs hatch after about a fortnight and the young larva immediately spins 2 or 3 leaflets together to form a protective tent from which it feeds. These leaflets are gradually eaten and the larva creates a new and larger tent as it grows. In August, after its 4th moult and when fully-grown, the larva builds a more-substantial tent, the hibernaculum, within which it hibernates.


Photo © Reg Fry	Photo © Reg Fry	Photo © Reg Fry

	Pupa

The larva emerges from hibernation in April and, without further feeding, pupates within its hibernaculum.

	Similar Species

No similar species found.

	Videos


Dingy Skipper RealPlayer \| Windows Video © Tess Wright Dancersend 08-May-05	Dingy Skipper RealPlayer \| Windows Video © Rob de Jong www.farmlator.hu Hungary Unknown date

Videos can be played back using either RealPlayer or Windows Media Player. Click here to obtain a free RealPlayer or free Windows Media Player.

	Sites

Click here to see the distribution of this species overlaid with specific site information. Alternatively, select one of the sites listed below.

Rating	Sites
	Gait Barrows, Ketton Quarry
	Braunton Burrows, Brown's Hill Quarry, Buckland Wood, Cerne Hill Giant, Fontmell Down, Martin Down, Mill Hill, Noar Hill, Twywell Hills and Dales, Warton Crag
	Bishop Middleham Quarry, Carymoor Environmental Centre, Chambers Farm Wood, Devils Ditch, Durlston Country Park, Malling Down, Priddy Mineries, Thurlbear Quarrylands, Tucking Mill
	Browns Folly, Denbies Hillside, Stockbridge Down
	Crook Peak, Greenham Common, Llanymynech Rocks
Not rated	Aldbury Nowers, Ardersier, Ardley Quarry, Aston Upthorpe Downs, Attenborough Nature Reserve, Badbury Rings, Ballard Down, Bannerdown, Barton Hills, Bishops Itchington, Black Rock, Blue Lagoon, Botley Wood, Brackett's Coppice, Branscombe, Brigstock, Brotheridge Green, Bunny's Hill, Caherconnell, Cannock Chase, Castle Eden Dene, Castle Hill NNR, Chawridge Bank, Clubmen's Down, College Lake, Common Hill, Coombe Bisset Down, Coombe Heath, Corfe Castle, Cother Wood, Dean Hill (West), Dolebury Warren, Draycott Sleights, Duchie's Piece, Duncliffe Woods, Earl's Hill, East Poldens Reserves, Epping Forest, Eyarth Rocks, Goblin Combe, Grangelands, Granville, Haldon Butterfly Walk, Haldon Woods, Hambledon Hill, Hartslock, Hod Hill, Hog Cliff Bottom, Holtspur Valley Reserves, Homefield Wood, Ivinghoe, Jerry's Hole, Kemsing Downs, Kenfig Pool, Kingcombe Meadows, Kingcombe Stones, Lankham Bottom, Larden Chase, Levin Down, Lydlinch Common, Mere Down, Merthyr Mawr, Middleton Down, Monkwood, Narborough Reserve, Orlestone Forest, Over Cutting, Oxwich, Pewley Downs, Piddles Wood, Pitt Down, Polhill Bank, Portland Tout Quarry, Portpatrick, Powerstock Common, Prestwood Picnic Site, Quoditch Moor Nature Reserve, Salcey Forest, Sewell Cutting, Sovell Down, Stoke Camp, Stubhampton Bottom, The Ercall, The Knapp and Papermill, Tickenham Ridge, Toads Hole, Townsend Quarry, Tring Park, Twyford Wood, Ubley Warren, Walton Common, Watlington Hill, Whitehawk Hill, Whiteley Pastures

	Conservation Status

The Dingy Skipper is in decline and is therefore a priority species for conservation efforts

UK BAP Status	Distribution Trend	Population Trend
Priority Species Click here to access the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for this species.

From The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).

	Links

The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.

	References

The species description provided here has been derived from the author's own observations and the information contained in the following works:

A Natural History of British Butterflies, by F.W.Frohawk.
British and Irish Butterflies, by Adrian M. Riley
South's British Butterflies, by T.G.Howarth (which is based extensively on the classic work, "The Butterflies of the British Isles", by Richard South).
The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland, by Jeremy Thomas and Richard Lewington.
The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland, by Jim Asher, Martin Warren, Richard Fox, Paul Harding, Gail Jeffcoate, Stephen Jeffcoate.
The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Volume 7 (1) Hesperiidae to Nymphalidae (the Butterflies), by A. Maitland Emmet and John Heath (editors).
The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland, Richard Fox, Jim Asher, Tom Brereton, David Roy and Martin Warren.