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Wingspan 23 - 29mm

Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae PEER-guss MAL-vee Linnaeus, 1758 Ref: 1534

Superfamily: Hesperioidea Family: Hesperiidae Subfamily: Pyrginae Genus: Pyrgus Subgenus:   Species: malvae

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

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.

Photo © Trev Sawyer	Photo © Gwenhwyfar 19-Apr-2009	Photo © Gwenhwyfar 17-May-2008	Photo © Paul
Photo © Vince Massimo 11-May-2008	Photo © Vince Massimo 14-Apr-2009	Photo © Vince Massimo 14-Apr-2009	Photo © Vince Massimo 14-Apr-2009
Photo © Vince Massimo 26-Apr-2009	Photo © Pete Eeles 23-Apr-2008	Photo © Pete Eeles 23-Apr-2008	Photo © Pete Eeles 05-May-2005
Photo © Pete Eeles 05-May-2005	Photo © Pete Eeles 12-May-2006	Photo © Dave Wilton	Photo © NickB 10-May-2009
Photo © Nick Sampford 13-May-2004	Photo © Nick Sampford 13-May-2004	Photo © Nick Sampford	Photo © Nick Sampford

	Aberrations

Description to be completed

ab. intermedia Photo © Guy Padfield

ab. taras Photo © Guy Padfield

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.

Photo © Pete Eeles 12-May-2006

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.

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.

Photo © Reg Fry

	Similar Species

No similar species found.

	Videos

Play Video

	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
	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 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.

• British Butterflies by Steven Cheshire
• Butterfly Conservation priority species factsheet
• Butterfly Conservation species action plan
• Butterfly Monitoring Scheme
• European Butterflies by Christopher Jonko
• European Butterflies by Matt Rowlings
• Guy Padfield's European Butterfly Page
• Learn About Butterflies by Adrian Hoskins
• Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa
• Natural History Museum (Cockayne Database)

	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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