Grizzled Skipper
Pyrgus malvae
This record describes Pyrgus malvae (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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. 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. 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 the weather conditions are favourable. The butterfly occurs in small colonies of less than 100 adults. The main larval foodplants are Agrimony ( Agrimonia eupatoria ), Creeping Cinquefoil ( Potentilla reptans ) and Wild Strawberry ( Fragaria vesca ) but others, such as Bramble, are used. This butterfly is generally distributed across Wales and England, as far north as South Yorkshire, although its strongholds are in central and southern England.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Hesperiidae
- Genus
- Pyrgus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
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.
Seasonal Activity
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 the weather conditions are favourable.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The butterfly occurs in small colonies of less than 100 adults. The main larval foodplants are Agrimony (
Additional species information
Recorded status
This butterfly is generally distributed across Wales and England, as far north as South Yorkshire, although its strongholds are in central and southern England.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pyrgus malvae. 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 Grizzled Skipper (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Grizzled Skipper
What is Grizzled Skipper?
Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Grizzled Skipper found?
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.
When is Grizzled Skipper active?
Grizzled Skipper: seasonal activity - 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 the weather conditions are favourable..
What is the life cycle of a Grizzled Skipper?
The butterfly occurs in small colonies of less than 100 adults. The main larval foodplants are Agrimony (