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| UK Status |
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| Resident |
A species which is continually Resident in the UK with stable breeding populations. |
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| Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Migrant in the UK. It may be able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Migrants are normally reported in the UK every year. |
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| Rare Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Rare Migrant in the UK. It may able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Rare Migrants may not be seen for many years. |
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| Extinct |
A species which is Extinct in the UK, usually as a result of habitat loss. |
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| Introduction |
A species which ocurs in the UK as an accidental introduction. |
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Description
From a distance a basking Dingy Skipper certainly lives up to its name being dull brown orange-brown or grey-brown in colour. However on close inspection a freshly emerged Dingy Skipper has a wonderfully intricate pattern on both the upper-sides and undersides of their wings. It also has what one can only describe as a 'cute' appearance when viewed up-close. Its fluffy head and big eyes make it a charming character.
Unlike many other butterfly species, the Dingy Skipper will often rest with its wings wrapped around a dead flower head or stem where it is perfectly camouflaged, behaviour unlike most other butterfly species which rest with their wings closed above their backs.
The Dingy Skipper can be seen from the end of April until the middle of August depending upon the location in the UK with sites in the south producing earlier individuals. It is a Priority Species for conservation due to the continued loss of habitat and resulting drop in population.
Habitat
The Dingy Skipper prefers a range of open sunny habitats with areas sheltered from strong winds. The larval food plant needs to grow within sparse grassy vegetation in a sheltered situation in full sun.
Taller plants such as Brambles etc are also needed by the adults for shelter, roosting and basking where they prefer prominent stems, leaves or bare patches of earth from which they defend their territories and wait for females.
Larval Food Plants
The primary larval foodplants are Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) and Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus).
See May. P. R (2003) for more information about larval foodplants.
British Subspecies
The following sub-species of the Dingy Skipper occur in the UK.
 Dingy Skipper - Erynnis tages baynesi (Huggins, 1956) - Occurs in the Burren in County Clare and parts of S.E. Galway, Ireland.Paler markings and brownish black upperside ground colouration are the main differences to ssp. tages.
Dingy Skipper - Erynnis tages tages (Linnaeus, 1758) - Occurs throughout mainland Britain.
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| Stock Photography Library |
| We have 25 photographs of the Dingy Skipper in the British Butterflies photo library |
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BB1580 - Dingy Skipper
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BB1385 - Dingy Skipper
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BB1384 - Dingy Skipper
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BB1383 - Dingy Skipper
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BB1382 - Dingy Skipper
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BB1381 - Dingy Skipper
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BB1380 - Dingy Skipper
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BB1379 - Dingy Skipper
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| Distribution |
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The Dingy Skipper is found throughout the UK but has seen a major decline over recent years and is probably under-recorded in many areas due to the low population density.
This butterfly is often found on post-industrial 'brown field' sites many of which are under threat from development and urban re-generation schemes. They are also found on disused railway lines quarries and rough ground. |
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| Where to see the Dingy Skipper |
Gloucestershire: Prestbury Hill - Bill Smilie Reserve
Dorset: Cerne Hill Giant
Wiltshire: Magdalen Hill Down
Warwickshire: Southam Quarry, Bishops Itchington, Ryton Wood Meadows BC Reserve
Staffordshire: Cannock Chase
Stoke-on-Trent: Chatterley Whitfield
Somerset: Thurlbear Quarrylands
In Scotland, the Dingy Skipper is in decline. It is one of the rarest butterfly species in Scotland being at the edge of its northern limit. It has declined in its two main population centres along the coast of Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway, and along the Moray Firth. The primary cause for these losses is due to the conversion of semi-natural grassland to ‘improved’ pasture or arable land.
The Burren in Ireland is also good for Dingy Skipper. |
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| Population Trends |
| species status |
the Dingy Skipper is a resident species in Britain |
| population trend1 |
(1995-2004)  down by -26% |
(1976-2004) down by -37% |
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1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Status |
| UK BAP status2 |
candidate priority species (link) |
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| 2 For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species status, visit www.ukbap.org.uk. |
| IUCN Category Status |
| IUCN category3 |
 vulnerable4 |
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3 Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4 More information about IUCN categories available here. |
| Find Out More Online* |
| More information about the Dingy Skipper can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site. |
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Aberrations and Forms |
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| We currently know of 12 named aberrant forms of the Dingy Skipper. More information about aberrants can be found here. |
 ab. albalinea - Frohawk (1938) |
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| ab. alcoides - Tutt (1906) |
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| ab. brunnea-alcoides - Tutt (1906) |
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| ab. brunnea-transversa - Tutt (1906) |
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| ab. brunnea-variegata - Tutt (1906) |
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| ab. fulva - Tutt (1906) |
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| ab. poliodes - Cabeau (1920) |
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| ab. posticeprivata - Stauder (1924) |
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| ab. suffusa-transversa - Tutt (1906) |
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| ab. suffusa-variegata - Tutt (1906) |
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| ab. transversa - Tutt (1906) |
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| ab. variegata - Tutt (1906) |
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| References |
| The information on this web site comes from a variety of freely available resources including books, academic reports and web sites alongside my own personal observations of butterflies. The species descriptions are currently in the process of being edited (spring 2009) to include new data, recent personal observations and referencing following a major update to the site.
A complete list of references mentioned in the text on this web site is available here. |
| * External Links Disclaimer |
| This web site includes links to information provided by external web sites which are not in any way under the control of www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. We cannot, therefore, be held responsible for the content of external web pages. |
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27-34mm
