Like most skippers, the Grizzled Skipper is extremely difficult to follow when in flight, but will stop to feed from various nectar sources. Once settled, the black and white pattern on the wings, from which this species gets its name, is unmistakable. The butterfly occurs in small colonies of less than 100 adults. A well-known aberration of this species, ab. taras, has all of the white spots on the forewings joined, forming a large white blotch. This butterfly is found in England south of a line extended from West Gloucestershire in the west to North Lincolnshire in the east, with strongholds in central and southern England. There are scattered colonies further north and in Wales. This species is absent from Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Subspecies: Pyrgus malvae malvae The nominate subspecies was first defined in Linnaeus (1758) as shown here (type locality: Sweden). The population in the British Isles is represented by this subspecies.
The butterfly emerges in late April and flies until the end of June. There is one generation each year, although there may be a small second brood in some years, when weather conditions are favourable. Subspecies: Pyrgus malvae malvae 
The chart(s) above have been correlated with the phenology plot below, taken from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. The blue line gives average counts over the full data set from 1976 to date, and the red line gives the average for the last year. 
This species occurs in different habitats that are all characterised by warmth, shelter, and sparse vegetation, such as chalk downland, woodland edges, woodland clearings, large woodland rides, unimproved grassland, hillsides, valleys and occasionally heathland.
The primary larval foodplants are Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), Creeping Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans) and Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca). Barren Strawberry (Potentilla sterilis), Bramble (Rubus fruticosus), Dog-rose (Rosa canina), Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor), Tormentil (Potentilla erecta) and Wood Avens (Geum urbanum) are also used.
Adults feed primarily on Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Bugle (Ajuga reptans), Buttercups (Ranunculus spp.) and Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi).
This is a warmth-loving butterfly, and both sexes bask in the sun for long periods, typically on a stone, leaf or bare earth. This is an active butterfly which will fly at most times the day, and even into the evening, if conditions are warm enough. The butterfly uses several nectar sources, favourites being Bird’s-foot Trefoil and Buttercup. The male is somewhat territorial and will chase any butterfly, irrespective of size, from its area. Females entering the territory are courted for a short period and, if the female is receptive, pairing occurs. The butterfly can be found roosting on heads of flowers and grasses during cool weather and at night. Subspecies: Pyrgus malvae malvae
Description to be completed. Click here to see a full list of aberrations for this species. Unclassified Aberrations
ab. intermedia (Oberthur.(nom.preoc.Schilde).Lep.Comp.1910.4.p.394.pl.54.f.457.) The white markings of the upperside intermediate between the type and ab.taras. The white spots above the inner margin of the forewings are united into an oblong blotch and the discoidal spot is united with the next spot into another oblong blotch. Hindwings with a row of white marginal spots and one spot in the middle of the wing.
ab. taras (Bergstrasser.Nomenclatur 1780.4.p.40.pl.XCI.f.5-6.) = althaeae Esper.Eur.Schmett.178l.1.p.4 and p.l49.
= fritillum Fabricius.Mantissa Ina.1787.2.p.91.
= lavaterao Haworth.Lep.Brit.1803.p.52.
= alveolus Hubner.Samml.Eur.Schmett.1823.1.pl.171.f.847-8.On the upper and underside the white spots of the forewings are confluent, forming a large white central area. Hindwings with the white spots reduced to a single one in the centre of the wing and a row of small white marginal spots.
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Grizzled Skipper ab. taras - Willow Park, Essex - May 29th 2012
Photo © Trev Sawyer
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Eggs are laid singly on the underside of a leaf. Foodplants growing in warm positions, next to bare ground or short vegetation, are favoured. This stage lasts around 10 days.
The larva eats the crown of the egg on hatching, and immediately moves to the upperside of the leaf, where it spins a web of silk across the midrib. The larva feeds on the leaf surface at first, leaving the leaf structurally intact. The larva moves to a new leaf, creating a new web, as necessary. In the 3rd instar, the larva creates a larger shelter by either spinning the edges of a leaf together, or by spinning two leaves together. The larva feeds primarily in early morning and evening, and spends a great deal of time resting, rather than feeding. Development is therefore relatively-slow, lasting around 2 months.
When fully-grown, the larva constructs a loose cocoon at the base of the vegetation, often among stems of the foodplant. The pupa is formed within the cocoon, secured by protrusions on the body and the cremaster, where it overwinters, this stage lasting around 9 months.
No similar species found.
Click here to see the distribution of this species overlaid with specific site information. Alternatively, select one of the sites listed below. |
| Aldbury Nowers, Alner's Gorse, Ardley Quarry, Arundel Park, Aston Rowant NNR, Aston Upthorpe Downs, Badbury Rings, Banstead Downs, Banstead Woods, Beckley Woods, Bernwood Meadows, Bingham Linear Park, Bishops Itchington, Bison Hill, Blue Lagoon, Bonchurch Down, Botley Wood, Bowdown Woods, Brackett's Coppice, Braunton Burrows, Brigstock, Brown's Folly, Buckland Wood, Carymoor Environmental Centre, Cerne Hill Giant, Chambers Farm Wood, Chawridge Bank, Clubmen's Down, Cotley Hill, Cribb's Meadow, Crook Peak, Dancersend, Dean Hill (West), Denbies Hillside, Dolebury Warren, Draycott Sleights, Duchie's Piece, Duncliffe Woods, Dungeness, Dunsford Meadow, Durlston Country Park, Durlston NNR, Earl's Hill, East Poldens Reserves, Ewyas Harold Common, Eyarth Rocks, Farley Mount Country Park, Fifehead Wood, Finemere Wood, Fontmell Down, Foulden Common, Garston Wood, Goblin Combe, Grangelands, Green Lane Wood, Greenham Common, Gurney Slade, Haldon Butterfly Walk, Hambledon Hill, Hartslock, Higher Hyde, Hod Hill, Hog Cliff Bottom, Holtspur Valley Reserves, Homefield Wood, Howe Park Wood, Hutchinsons Bank, Jerry's Hole, Kemsing Downs, Ketton Quarry, Kingcombe Meadows, Kingcombe Redholm, Kingcombe Stones, Lankham Bottom, Levin Down, Llanymynech Rocks, Loggerheads Country Park, Lydford Old Railway, Lydlinch Common, Magdalen Hill Down, Malling Down, Martin Down, Mere Down, Merthyr Mawr, Middleton Down, Mill Hill, Miners Rest, Monk's Wood, Mount Fancy Reserve, Nagshead, Narborough Reserve, Nupend Wood, Old Winchester Hill, Orlestone Forest, Over Cutting, Park Corner Heath, Penhale Sands, Piddles Wood, Polhill Bank, Powerstock Common, Prestwood Picnic Site, Ryton Woods Meadows, Salcey Forest, Saltbox Hill, Sovell Down, Stockbridge Down, Stoke Camp, Stubhampton Bottom, Tadnoll, Thurlbear Quarrylands, Tickenham Ridge, Torr Works, Trench Wood, Tring Park, Trosley Country Park, Tucking Mill, Twyford Wood, Twywell Hills and Dales, Ubley Warren, Upton Heath, Walton Common, Warburg Reserve, Watlington Hill, Whipsnade, White Hill Reserve, White Sheet Hill, Whitecross Green Wood, Whitehawk Hill, Whiteley Pastures, Wolfhamcote, Woodside, Yoesden Bank |
The Grizzled Skipper is in decline and it is therefore a priority species for conservation efforts. From The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).
The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.
The species description provided here has been derived from the author's own observations and the information contained in the following works:
- Asher (2001). Asher, J., Warren, M., Fox, R., Harding, P., Jeffcoate, G. and Jeffcoate, S.: The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. 2001.
- Fox (2006). Fox, R., Asher, J., Brereton, T., Roy, D. and Warren, M.: The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. 2006.
- Frohawk (1914). Frohawk, F.W.: A Natural History of British Butterflies. 1914.
- Howarth (1973). Howarth, T.G.: South's British Butterflies. 1973.
- Nash (2012). Nash, D., Boyd, T. and Hardiman, D.: Ireland's Butterflies: A Review. 2012.
- Riley (2007). Riley, A.M.: British and Irish Butterflies: The Complete Identification, Field and Site Guide to the Species, Subspecies and Forms. 2007.
- South (1906). South, R.: The Butterflies Of The British Isles. 1906.
- Thomas & Lewington (2010). Thomas, J. and Lewington, R.: The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland. Edn.2. 2010.
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