Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)

Family: Hesperiidae Checklist: 57.001

 
Description
Wing span: 27-34 mm. The Dingy Skipper is probably the most moth-like British butterfly. Its colours are usually quite muted except on newly-emerged individuals. The sexes are similar. It is found over much of Britain but its distribution is rather patchy except in southern England. Its preferred habitat is warm open areas such as south-facing chalk and limestone downland, open hillsides, railway embankments, dunes, cliffs and abandoned quarries.
 
Images (click to enlarge)
Dingy Skipper ♂ © David Hastings
Dingy Skipper ♂ underside © David Hastings
Dingy Skipper ♀ © David Hastings
Dingy Skipper ♀ underside © David Hastings
Male Male underside Female Female underside
 
Life Cycle
The Dingy Skipper is on the wing in May and June. In favourable years there may be a partial second brood. It overwinters as a larva.
 
Larval Foodplants
The primary 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
Adults feed primarily on Bird's-foot Trefoil, Bugle, buttercups, hawkweeds, Ragged Robin and vetches.
 
UK Conservation Status
Least Concern
 
Earliest UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 11th April
Mean UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 24th April
 
Species Champion
Ben Paternoster & Andy Spragg
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Reports
 
Distribution and Sites
 

Key
1 sighting 2-9 max seen 10+ max seen
This species is a habitat specialist. It can be found at these sites:
Berkshire
Lardon Chase
Seven Barrows
The Holies
Buckinghamshire
Blue Lagoon
Bradenham
Calvert Jubilee
College Lake
Dancersend
Grangelands
Holtspur Valley
Homefield Wood
Incombe Hole
Ivinghoe Beacon
Lodge Hill
Pitstone Quarry
Prestwood LNR
Oxfordshire
Ardley Wood Quarry
Aston Upthorpe Downs
Crog Hill
Hackpen Hill
Hartslock
Radley Lakes

 
Related Species
All Species