Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
Family: Hesperiidae Checklist: 57.002
Description
Wing span: 23-29 mm. The Grizzled Skipper looks rather like a moth. The black and white pattern on the wings, from which this species gets its name, is unmistakable. It is mainly found in southern England. It has been declining generally, probably because of habitat loss. This species occurs in habitats that are characterised by warmth, shelter, and sparse vegetation, such as chalk downland, woodland edges, woodland clearings, large woodland rides, unimproved grassland, hillsides, valleys and occasionally heathland. Life Cycle
Adults are usually on the wing from mid-April to the end of June. There can be a small second brood in favourable years. The species over-winters as a pupa.
Earliest UTB first sighting (since 2004): 1st April
Mean UTB first sighting (since 2004): 17th April
Larval Foodplants
The primary larval foodplants are Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), Creeping Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans) and Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca). Nectar Sources
Spring flowers such as Bugle are used as nectar sources.UK Conservation Status
VulnerableSpecies Champion
David HastingsEmail: grizzled-skipper@upperthames-butterflies.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk
Reports
Sites
This species is a habitat specialist. It can be found at these sites:Berkshire (VC22)
Buckinghamshire (VC24)
Oxfordshire (VC23)
Related Species
