Great British Lepidoptera

Dingy Skipper

(Erynnis tages)

Despite the name, which reflects its dull colours, the Dingy Skipper has attractive mottled patterns on the wings, especially the border of grey hairs around the hind-wing. It is unique among British Skippers for two reasons: it is the only Skipper that is also found in Ireland, and it rests at night like a moth with the wings spread out flat. Its distribution in Britain is rather patchy, mostly in southern and central England, parts of Wales and a few places in Scotland. In Ireland, it is found in limestone areas such as Counties Clare, Mayo and Galway.

The caterpillars have only one foodplant; bird's-foot-trefoil, which is found throughout the British Isles but grows best on chalk and limestone soils. Dingy Skippers are mostly likely to be seen on chalk downlands and in flowery woodland clearings in limestone districts. Like some other Skippers, they overwinter as caterpillars which turn into chrysalises in April or May. The butterflies are on the wing in May and June, each one living for about 20 days. There is normally only one generation a year, with occasionally a second in favourable years.