Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages
This small butterfly, which is in severe decline, has a mottled grey-brown moth-like look and is easily confused with the grizzled skipper. It can be seen flitting about in May and June.
Conservation status in Norfolk
The distribution and population of the dingy skipper is in serious decline mainly due to loss of habitat. It is a species of conservation concern and a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species.
How to help
You can help to survey and monitor this species if it is found in areas near you, or help with conservation work to maintain its habitat.
Wildstock
Information on the Dingy Skipper
How to recognise
The dingy skipper is a small butterfly which has a rather moth-like appearance. Its general colouration is a mottled dull grey-brown with a row of small white dots along the outer margins of its wings. It is possible to confuse this species with the grizzled skipper which may occur at the same sites but that species has a much more obvious black and white chequered patterning on both the upperside and underside. The dingy skipper has a fast flight, flitting along low to the ground, and can be difficult to follow, but can spend long periods basking on warm stones or bare earth.
Where to see
The dingy skipper likes open, sunny habitats such as chalk downland and heathland. It is not a very common or widespread butterfly in Norfolk but can be found in Breckland and at the NWT reserve at Narborough Railway Line which is a rare Norfolk example of a chalk grassland habitat.
When to see
The butterfly can be seen flying in May and June. There may also be a small second brood in August. The main food plant of the caterpillar is Bird’s-foot trefoil. Adults prefer to feed on yellow flowers including Bird’s-foot trefoil, Horseshoe vetch, Buttercup and Hawkweed.
Did you know?
When roosting, the dingy skipper perches in a moth-like fashion with the wings curved in a position not seen in any other British butterfly.
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