Dingy Skipper
Erynnis tages
This record describes Erynnis tages (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Despite its name, a freshly emerged Dingy Skipper reveals a subtle pattern of browns and greys that is quite beautiful. However, this butterfly does live up to its name, as scales are lost over time, resulting in a lacklustre and drab appearance. The butterfly is found in warm open areas such as south-facing chalk and limestone downland, open hillsides, railway embankments, dunes, cliffs and abandoned quarries. It can also be found at the ends of woodland as well as in woodland clearings and rides. The butterfly is on the wing in May and June and, in favourable years, there may be a partial second brood. This butterfly lives in discrete colonies with little interchange between them. The main larval foodplant is Common Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus) and Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) are also used. In the late afternoon the butterflies gather to roost on dead flowers or grass heads, where they take on a moth-like pose, with wings wrapped around the flower head. This is our most widely distributed Skipper, despite its decline due to changes in farming practice. Colonies can be found throughout the British Isles, including northern Scotland. This butterfly's strongholds, however, are in central and southern England.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Hesperiidae
- Genus
- Erynnis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
The butterfly is found in warm open areas such as south-facing chalk and limestone downland, open hillsides, railway embankments, dunes, cliffs and abandoned quarries. It can also be found at the ends of woodland as well as in woodland clearings and rides.
Seasonal Activity
The butterfly is on the wing in May and June and, in favourable years, there may be a partial second brood.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
This butterfly lives in discrete colonies with little interchange between them. The main larval foodplant is Common Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus) and Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) are also used. In the late afternoon the butterflies gather to roost on dead flowers or grass heads, where they take on a moth-like pose, with wings wrapped around the flower head.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This is our most widely distributed Skipper, despite its decline due to changes in farming practice. Colonies can be found throughout the British Isles, including northern Scotland. This butterfly's strongholds, however, are in central and southern England.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Erynnis tages. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Dingy Skipper (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Dingy Skipper
What is Dingy Skipper?
Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Dingy Skipper found?
Habitat: The butterfly is found in warm open areas such as south-facing chalk and limestone downland, open hillsides, railway embankments, dunes, cliffs and abandoned quarries. It can also be found at the ends of woodland as well as in woodland clearings and rides.
When is Dingy Skipper active?
Dingy Skipper: seasonal activity - The butterfly is on the wing in May and June and, in favourable years, there may be a partial second brood..
What is the life cycle of a Dingy Skipper?
This butterfly lives in discrete colonies with little interchange between them. The main larval foodplant is Common Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus) and Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) are also used. In the late afternoon the butterflies gather to roost on dead flowers or grass heads, where they take on a moth-like pose, with wings wrapped around the flower head.