Dingy Skipper

• Latin name: Erynnis tages
• Family group: Skippers
• Countries: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland
• Size: Small

Resident

Range declining.

In sunshine, the Dingy Skipper often basks on bare ground with wings spread wide. In dull weather, and at night, it perches on the tops of dead flowerheads in a moth-like fashion with wings curved in a position not seen in any other British butterfly. This small brown and grey butterfly is extremely well camouflaged. It may be confused with the Grizzled Skipper, the Mother Shipton moth, and Burnet Companion moth, which sometimes occur on the same sites at the same time.

The Dingy Skipper is locally distributed throughout Britain and Ireland, but has declined seriously in recent years.

Conservation status

• UK Biodiversity Action Plan: Priority Species
• Butterfly Conservation priority: high
• European threat status: not threatened
• Protected in Northern Ireland

European/world range

Occurs widely in Europe to latitude 62B0N and eastwards through Asia to China. Declining in several European countries.

Foodplants

Common Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) is the usual foodplant in all habitats. Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) is also used on calcareous soils, and Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil (L. pedunculatus) is used on heavier soils.

Habitat

Colonies occur in a wide range of open, sunny habitats including chalk downland, woodland rides and clearings, coastal habitats such as dunes and undercliffs, heathland, old quarries, railway lines, and waste ground. Suitable conditions occur where foodplants grow in a sparse sward, often with patches of bare ground in a sunny, sheltered situation. Taller vegetation is also required for shelter and roosting.