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Butterfly taxonomy (classification) The skippers The swallowtails The whites The hairstreaks, coppers and blues. Includes the Duke of Burgundy. The nymphalids, fritillaries and browns. Includes the Monarch.
Grizzled Skipper 2009Wingspan
23 - 29mm
Grizzled Skipper

Pyrgus malvae
Pronunciation PEER-guss
MAL-vee
Linnaeus, 1758
Ref: 1534
Superfamily: Hesperioidea
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Genus: Pyrgus
Subgenus:  
Species: malvae
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Grizzled Skipper - imago - Magdalen Hill Down - 23-Apr-08 (2)
Male
Grizzled Skipper Male - Chaldon, Surrey 14-April-09
Male Underside
Grizzled Skipper - imago - Nr Stockbridge Down - 05-May-05 (2)
Female
Grizzled Skipper - imago - Nr Stockbridge Down - 12-May-06 (0101)
Female Underside

Introduction  

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, known as “taras”, has all of the white spots on the forewings joined, forming a large white blotch.

Distribution  

This butterfly is generally distributed across Wales and England, as far north as south Yorkshire, although its strongholds are in central and southern England.

Annual Cycle  

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.


Habitat  

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.

Larval Foodplants  

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.

Nectar Sources  

Adults feed primarily on Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Bugle (Ajuga reptans), Buttercups (Ranunculus spp.) and Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi).

Imago  

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.


Grizzled Skipper 2009
Photo © Trev Sawyer
Grizzled Skipper - Stockbridge Down Hampshire - 19-4-2009
Photo © Gwenhwyfar
19-Apr-2009
Grizzled Skipper - Danebury Ring Hampshire - 17-5-2008
Photo © Gwenhwyfar
17-May-2008
09 P. malvae  0905 SP938773 3 009
Photo © Paul
Grizzled Skipper Female - Chaldon, Surrey 11-May-08
Photo © Vince Massimo
11-May-2008
Grizzled Skipper Male - Chaldon, Surrey 14-April-09
Photo © Vince Massimo
14-Apr-2009
Grizzled Skipper Male - Chaldon, Surrey 14-April-09
Photo © Vince Massimo
14-Apr-2009
Grizzled Skipper Male - Chaldon, Surrey 14-April-09
Photo © Vince Massimo
14-Apr-2009
Grizzled Skipper Pair (Male top, Female below) - Chaldon, Surrey 26-April-09
Photo © Vince Massimo
26-Apr-2009
Grizzled Skipper - imago - Magdalen Hill Down - 23-Apr-08 (2)
Photo © Pete Eeles
23-Apr-2008
Grizzled Skipper - imago - Magdalen Hill Down - 23-Apr-08 (4)
Photo © Pete Eeles
23-Apr-2008
Grizzled Skipper - imago - Nr Stockbridge Down - 05-May-05 (2)
Photo © Pete Eeles
05-May-2005
Grizzled Skipper - imago - Nr Stockbridge Down - 05-May-05 (4)
Photo © Pete Eeles
05-May-2005
Grizzled Skipper - imago - Nr Stockbridge Down - 12-May-06 (0101)
Photo © Pete Eeles
12-May-2006
Grizzled Skipper - imago - Aston Upthorpe Downs - 20-May-05 [Dave Wilton]
Photo © Dave Wilton
Grizzled Skipper Pair, Woodwalton Fen, 10th May 2009
Photo © NickB
10-May-2009
Grizzled Skipper 5 [Nick Sampford]
Photo © Nick Sampford
13-May-2004
Grizzled Skipper 7 [Nick Sampford]
Photo © Nick Sampford
13-May-2004
Grizzled Skipper (2) [Nick Sampford]
Photo © Nick Sampford
Grizzled Skipper (3) [Nick Sampford]
Photo © Nick Sampford

Aberrations  

Description to be completed


Grizzled Skipper - aberration - Switzerland - 28-Apr-07 [Guy Padfield]
ab. intermedia
Photo © Guy Padfield
Grizzled Skipper - aberration - Vaus, Switzerland - 17-May-06 [Guy Padfield]
ab. taras
Photo © Guy Padfield
Grizzled Skipper ab. intermedia, Beckley Woods, 8 May 2008
Photo © Sussex Kipper
08-May-2008

Ovum  

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.


Grizzled Skipper - ovum - Nr Stockbridge Down - 12-May06 (0263)
Photo © Pete Eeles
12-May-2006
Grizzled Skipper - ovum - Nr Stockbridge Down - 12-May06 (0264)
Photo © Pete Eeles
12-May-2006

Larva  

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.


Grizzled Skipper - larva - Unknown location - Uknown date [Reg Fry]
Photo © Reg Fry

Pupa  

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.


Grizzled Skipper - pupa - Unknown location - Uknown date [Reg Fry]
Photo © Reg Fry

Similar Species  

No similar species found.

Videos  

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Sites  

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

RatingSites
Ketton Quarry
Braunton Burrows, Buckland Wood, Cerne Hill Giant, Fontmell Down, Gurney Slade, Mill Hill, Old Winchester Hill, Twywell Hills and Dales
Arundel Park, Carymoor Environmental Centre, Denbies Hillside, Durlston Country Park, Magdalen Hill Down, Martin Down, Thurlbear Quarrylands, Tucking Mill
Bonchurch Down, Malling Down, Powerstock Common, Stockbridge Down
Banstead Downs, Bowdown Woods, Greenham Common
Not rated
Aldbury Nowers, Alner's Gorse, Ardley Quarry, Aston Rowant NNR, Aston Upthorpe Downs, Badbury Rings, Beckley Woods, Bernwood Meadows, Bingham Linear Park, Bishops Itchington, Bison Hill, Blue Lagoon, Botley Wood, Brackett's Coppice, Brigstock, Browns Folly, Chawridge Bank, Clubmen's Down, Cribb's Meadow, Dancersend, Dean Hill (West), Dolebury Warren, Draycott Sleights, Duchie's Piece, Duncliffe Woods, Dunsford Meadow, Earl's Hill, East Poldens Reserves, Eyarth Rocks, Fifehead Wood, Finemere Wood, Garston Wood, Goblin Combe, Grangelands, Green Lane Wood, Haldon Butterfly Walk, Haldon Woods, Hambledon Hill, Hartslock, Higher Hyde, Hod Hill, Hog Cliff Bottom, Holtspur Valley Reserves, Homefield Wood, Howe Park Wood, Jerry's Hole, Kemsing Downs, Kingcombe Meadows, Kingcombe Redholm, Kingcombe Stones, Lankham Bottom, Levin Down, Llanymynech Rocks, Lydford Old Railway, Lydlinch Common, Mere Down, Merthyr Mawr, Middleton Down, Miners Rest, Monk's Wood, Mount Fancy Reserve, Narborough Reserve, Nupend Wood, Orlestone Forest, Over Cutting, Park Corner Heath, Piddles Wood, Pitt Down, Polhill Bank, Prestwood Picnic Site, Salcey Forest, Saltbox Hill, Sovell Down, Stoke Camp, Stubhampton Bottom, Tadnoll, Tickenham Ridge, Torr Works, Trench Wood, Tring Park, Twyford Wood, Ubley Warren, Upton Heath, Walton Common, Warburg Reserve, Watlington Hill, Whipsnade, Whitecross Green Wood, Whitehawk Hill, Whiteley Pastures, Wolfhamcote, Woodside, Yoesden Bank

Conservation Status  

The Grizzled Skipper is in decline and it is therefore a priority species for conservation efforts.

UK BAP StatusDistribution TrendPopulation Trend
Priority Species
Click here to access the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for this species.
DecreaseDecrease

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.

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