Skippers
A family of small, fast flying butterflies very moth-like in appearance. Stout bodies, broad heads and large, widely separated eyes adorned with hair tufts are distinctive features. Males are often distinguishable from females by the 'sex-brand', a dark line near the centre of each forewing, evident when viewed from above.
Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)
Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Genus: Erynnis
Species: tages
Subspecies: tages, baynesi

Key ID Features:
Dullish, brown.moth like skipper partial to basking on or near the ground.
Forewings are mottled brown and grey with three white spots near the tips and a further row around the margins.
One of the earliest skippers to appear.


Seen in UK: April-August

Despite its name, a freshly-emerged Dingy Skipper reveals a subtle pattern of browns and greys that is quite beautiful. However, this butterfly does live up to its name as scales are lost over time, resulting in a lacklustre and drab appearance. This is our most widely-distributed skipper, despite its decline due to changes in farming practice. Colonies can be found throughout the British Isles, including northern Scotland and Ireland where, although scarce, is found on outcrops of limestone. This butterfly’s strongholds, however, are in central and southern England. This butterfly lives in discrete colonies with little interchange between them.

Text (c) UK Butterflies, used with permission
For more information click here

Location: Salisbury Plain

Photographer: Tim Tapley

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Genus: Erynnis
Species: tages
Subspecies: tages, baynesi

Key ID Features:
Dullish, brown.moth like skipper partial to basking on or near the ground.
Forewings are mottled brown and grey with three white spots near the tips and a further row around the margins.
One of the earliest skippers to appear.


Seen in UK: April-August

Despite its name, a freshly-emerged Dingy Skipper reveals a subtle pattern of browns and greys that is quite beautiful. However, this butterfly does live up to its name as scales are lost over time, resulting in a lacklustre and drab appearance. This is our most widely-distributed skipper, despite its decline due to changes in farming practice. Colonies can be found throughout the British Isles, including northern Scotland and Ireland where, although scarce, is found on outcrops of limestone. This butterfly’s strongholds, however, are in central and southern England. This butterfly lives in discrete colonies with little interchange between them.

Text (c) UK Butterflies, used with permission
For more information click here

Location: Salisbury Plain

Photographer: Tim Tapley