Dingy Skipper
Common NameDingy Skipper
Scientific NameErynnis tages
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyPyrginae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, black
HabitatGrasslands, heathlands, open woodlands, chalk downlands
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, and temperate Asia
Host PlantsLotus corniculatus, Hippocrepis comosa, Coronilla varia
Flight PeriodApril to July (sometimes a partial second brood in August)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on the host plant leaves. Larvae are green with a dark head, feeding on the leaves before pupating in a loose cocoon near the ground or within leaf litter.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its dull, mottled brown-grey coloration, lack of bright markings, and its characteristic resting posture with wings held partially open and flat. Its flight is low, fast, and darting.
Description
A small, drab skipper butterfly with mottled brown and grey wings, often appearing 'dingy'. Its forewings are broad and triangular, typically held partially open when at rest.
