Butterfly Conservation
Hertfordshire and Middlesex Target Species Guide 2005

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)

Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages © photo: Allen Beechey

Status

The Dingy Skipper is identified in the Thames Regional Action Plan as having Medium Priority status. Although it is listed as "Medium Priority" there is concern over the declines in recent years. New knowledge of its distribution and rates of decline thanks to the Millennium Atlas demonstrates that this species should be given a higher priority. A copy of the Species Action Plan can be downloaded here

For full details of the Eastern Region Dingy Skipper Awareness Campaign click here

Adult

Dingy Skipper is a small brown and greyish butterfly. The flight period is usually early May until the end of June, but can be earlier depending on the weather and I have recorded it in early July. It is an extremely fast flyer and difficult to follow. The best time to observe them I have found, is when they first hatch and take their first flight or if you disturb them when the weather is not ideal. Evenings and early mornings, are another time to seek them out on dead flower heads, while they roost. They can however be difficult to see because they are well camouflaged.

The Burnet Companion moth can be confused for Dingy Skipper as they fly at the same time. After watching both for some time, you get to know the difference in the way they fly and settle, but still check!

Burnet Companion moth euclidea glyphica © photo: Nick Sampford

Egg

The eggs are laid singly on new leaves of largish plants, usually in sheltered postions. When laid they are green at first, but then changing to a more noticeable orange after about five days. inside cocoons of leaves and silk amongst low-growing vegetation. The adult butterflies normally live in small colonies of about 100. Most adults stay within the colony, but some fly up to 1.5km and may be able to fly much further.

Food plants

Common Bird's-foot-trefoil (lotus corniculatus) is the main food plant. Horseshoe Vetch (hippocrepis comosa) and Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil (lotus pedunculatus) are also used.

Greater Bird's Foot Trefoil lotus pedunculatus © photo: Malcolm Storey BioImages - Virtual Field-Guide (UK)	Common Bird's Foot Trefoil lotus corniculatus © photo: Malcolm Storey BioImages - Virtual Field-Guide (UK)	Horseshoe Vetch hippocrepis comosa © photo: Malcolm Storey BioImages - Virtual Field-Guide (UK)

Larva and Pupa

Larvae hatch after about 14 days and immediately spin leaves together to form a tent in which it lives. Fully grown by August, it hibernates as a caterpillar throughout the winter, before pupating the following spring. They start to emerge in early May

Tring Park © photo: Brian Jessop

Any sightings should be recorded and in the usual way but I would also be glad to hear of them and can be reached by email or post at the addresses below.

Distribution in Hertfordshire and Middlesex

Table 1: Sites where Dingy Skippers were found 2000-2004 - private sites have not been included.

Site	Tetrad	Last record	Site	Tetrad	Last record
Aldbury Nowers	SP9412	2004	Hexton Chalk Pit	TL1028	2003
Tring Park	SP9210	2004	Wood Lane, Pirton	TL1430	2004
Telegraph Hill	TL1028	2004	Welwyn North Station	TL2416	2001

Table 2: Flight dates 1996 - 2004

Based on information available in the Branch Annual Reports

Flight Dates	Year
15 May - 19 June	2004
11 May - 15 June	2003
11 May - 20 June	2002
29 May - 14 June	2001
7 May – 17 June	2000
16 May – 26 June	1999
18 May – 24 June	1998
30 April - 7 June	1997
2 June - 17 June	1996

Click on map for details

SYMBOL	DATE	REFERENCE SOURCE
	1996-2004	Indicates records taken from the Herts & Middx Butterfly Report for 1999 - John B. Murray & Rob Souter and Herts & Middx Butterfly Report for 2003 - John B. Murray & Andrew Wood
	1970-1987	Indicates records taken from Butterflies of Hertfordshire - Brian Sawford 1987 or The Butterflies of the London Area - Colin Plant 1987
O	pre 1970	Sites where Dingy Skipper were found pre 1970 records taken from The Butterflies of Hertfordshire - Brian Sawford 1987

Acknowledgements

Text by Brian Jessop ~ December 2002

Records

Please send any records of colonies, singletons or potential sites to:
Andrew Palmer
Telephone: 07753 913722

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