Hesperiidae

Grizzled Skipper Butterfly (Pyrgus malvae)

A small butterfly, with spotted patterned markings of dark brown and white, edged with a white fringe, on the upper-wings, and mostly seen from May to June although in certain years it may be as early as mid April.

The Grizzled Skipper is well camouflaged and sometimes difficult to see it can sometimes be found along with the Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages), and although both butterflies share the same habitat and similar flight times, they do not share the same food plants.

On sunny days Grizzled Skipper Butterflies may be seen basking in the sun, usually up off the ground, choosing to rest on an old knapweed seed head or stems of long grasses.

Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)

Grizzled Skipper Butterfly (Pyrgus malvae)

Quick Info

Family Group: Hesperiidae – Skippers.
Where: Parts of Southern and Central England and south Wales.
Habitat: Meadows, grassy woodland rides,waste ground although mainly on chalk downland.
When: Flying where found in largest numbers from May-June.
Size: Wingspan 20mm.
Larval Food Plant: Wild Strawberry, Agrimony and Cinquefoils.
Population Status: Due to continued loss of natural habitat the Grizzled Skipper has become a priority species for conservation.
Family Group: Hesperiidae.
Photographed Ketton Quarry Mid May 2011 (Macro)

Skippers – Hesperiidae

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Skippers Family Group – Hesperiidae
Hesperiidae are a family of butterflies more commonly known as Skippers, their small size, wing and body shape, give them an appearance more like a moth than a butterfly. In Britain there are 8 resident species of skipper.
Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon)	Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)	Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)	Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
Large Skipper (Ochlodes venata)	Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon)	Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)	Silver Spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma)

© Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2013

Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages)

Small and fast flying, the Dingy Skipper Butterfly with it’s brown and cream mottled markings, is well camouflaged into the grassy surroundings. It can often take flight and blend in so well, at times can be difficult to spot.

Widely spread across the southern half of Britain, Dingy Skippers are most often found on open chalk or limestone grassland, and are on the wing from the last week of April into June.

Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages)

Quick Info

Family Group: Hesperiidae – Skippers.
Where: A Native Butterfly widely spread across England and Wales in small pockets.
Habitat: A meadow butterfly that also be found on old waste ground, Disused quarries, disused railway sidings and open grassy woodland rides.
When: Flying where found in largest numbers from May-June.
Adult nectar plant: Buttercups, Bird’s foot-trefoil, Dandelions, Speedwell, Plantains, Hawkweeds.
Size: Wingspan 24mm.
Larval Food Plant: Mainly Bird’s foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) but will also use Horseshoe vetch (Hippocrepis comosa)
Photographed: Top and Left, Ketton Quarry, Rutland 25th May 13. Right, Cribbs Meadow, Leicestershire, 25th May 12.

Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages)

The Dingy Skipper often shares the same habitat and a similar flight period to the Grizzled skipper (Pyrgus malvae), although nether butterfly shares the same larval food plants.

Seen from a distance both butterflies may be mistaken for day flying moths such as Mother Shipton, (Callistege mi), which also shares similar flight times and habitat.

During sunny weather, Dingy Skipper Butterflies enjoy basking in warm sunshine, perching up on the old flower heads of Knapweed, or on tall dry grasses, if it is overcast or a cool breeze, they may choose a more sheltered position on the ground.

Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages) Cribbs Meadow on Buttercups

Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages) on Buttercups

Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)

Brief Description

A small meadow butterfly with orange and dark brown margined upper-wings and buff under-wings, native to the British isles.

On the wing in July and August the Essex skipper is sometimes found in the same habitat along side the, small skipper in meadows and other grassy places although it does prefer sunny embankments and chalky hill sides.

Being almost identical to the Small skipper, and sometimes sharing the same habitat, identification can often be difficult, one main difference is the underside of the antennae tip is black.

Essex Skipper Butterfly (Thymelicus lineola)

Quick Info

Family Group – Hesperiidae.
Where – Across Southern and Eastern England and Wales.
Habitat- Coastal areas, to inland sunny embankments, chalky hillsides meadows and grassland.
When– July – August.
Size– Wingspan 26 – 30mm.
Larval Food Plants – Cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata), Couch Grass (Elymus repens)
Adults nectar on – Ox-eye daisy, Birds-foot Trefoil (Lotus uliginosus), Thistles, Ragwort.
Population Status – Spreading steadily Northward reaching Parts of Central England.
Photographed – July 2011. (will be updated)

Quick Info

Skippers Family Group – Hesperiidae

Quick Info

Brief Description

Quick Info