Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)

OTHER NAMES: Dingy Grass-Skipper

Latin Etymology: Erynnis (?) tages (after an Etruscan deity)

Adult Dingy Skipper (subspecies E. t. tages) at Brigstock, Northants - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: Erynnis tages tages
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 29mm
UK Status: Vulnerable / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The skippers are a family of Butterflies which to the untrained may resemble moths, and the Dingy Skipper more than most due to its very drab appearances.  It is in decline in the UK and its distribution is wide but in patches rather than continuous.  They feed largely on Bird's-foot trefoil.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae 
Genus: Erynnis
SUBSPECIES: E. t. tages, E. t. baynesi

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A scarce resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen at sites including Brigstock

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)

OTHER NAMES: The Grizzle, Mr Dandridge's Dark Fritillary, Spotted Skipper

Latin Etymology: Pyrgus (?) malvae ("mallow plant")

Adult Grizzled Skipper (subspecies P. m. malvae) at Geddington, Northants - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: Pyrgus malvae malvae
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 22-26mm
UK Status: Vulnerable / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

The Grizzled Skipper is another of the Moth-like Skipper families, and while slightly more patterned than the dingy skipper is another fairly drab species.  It is fairly small species, found in the same habitat as Dingy skipper upon Birdsfoot Trefoil.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae 
Genus: Pyrgus
SUBSPECIES: P. m. kauffmanni, P. m. malvoides, P. m. modestior

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A scarce and local resident

 - Seen in Brigstock and numerous other sites 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto  .

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus)

OTHER NAMES: Large Skipper Butterfly

Latin Etymology: Ochlodes (?) sylvanus ("woods")

Adult female Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) at Geddington, Northants - July 2010

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Wingspan: 29-36mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

As the name suggests, the largest of the species of skipper found in the UK.  It is differentiated from the Small and Essex Skippers by the slight patterning on the wings.  This species is currently extending it's range Northwards.  They often perch on prominant leaves in a sunny position at the edge of taller and shorter vegetation.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Hesperiidae 
Genus: Thymelicus 
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdGuides,  IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)

OTHER NAMES: European Skipper
Latin Etymology: Thymelicus ("theatrical") lineola ("small line")

Adult Essex Skipper (subspecies T. l. lineola) at Geddington, Northants - July 2009

Featured Subspecies: Thymelicus lineola lineola
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 27-30mm
UK Status: Least Concern / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

While at first glance this may look like a moth, it is in fact a butterfly. They are currently expanding their range northwards in the UK. Care should be taken to differentiate it from the very similar small skipper.  The way to successfully differentiate between this and the Small Skipper is the black tips on antennae rather than orange ones for the Small Skipper.  They are found primarily in the South East of England up to the Midlands to the North and Somerset to the West.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Hesperiidae 
Genus: Thymelicus 
SUBSPECIES: T. l. kushana, T. l. lineola, T. l.pseudothaumas, T. l. semicolon

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen at sites including Geddington and Brigstock

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Persius Duskywing (Erynnis persius)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Erynnis (?) persius (named for a Roman Poet)

Adult Persius Duskywing (Erynnis persius) at Writing-on-Stone, Alberta - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Unclear, possibly Erynnis persius borealis
Wingspan: 2.8-3.5cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

Named for an ancient Roman Poet, the Persius Duskywing is a small skipper species whose hostplant are primarily lupins and fale-lupins. They have a distinct population in New England  which is much scarcer and considered endangered in many locales. It has some closely related and similar species in places like the Wild Indigo Duskywing.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae 
Genus: Erynnis
SUBSPECIES: E. p. persius, E. p. avinoffi, E. p. borealis, E. p. fredericki

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Range in South Eastern Canadaa
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Tropical Chequered Skipper (Burnsius oileus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Burnsius (for lepidopterist John M. Burns) oileus (a minor figure in Greek myth)

Two Adult Tropical Chequered Skipper (Burnsius oileus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 32-38mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A species found from Florida to Costa Rica which feeds on members of the mallow family. They favour open sunny areas such as pasture, roadsides and woodland trails They are sexually dimorphic with the male being brighter than the female and having longer hairs on the body.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae 
Genus: Burnsius
SUBSPECIES: B. o. oileus, B. o. syrichtus
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 
A widespread resident.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Umber Skipper (Lon melane)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Lon (last syllable of zabulon - the type species) melane ("dark")

Adult Umber Skipper (Lon melane) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 32-35mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A small dark coloured skipper which in the US is almost entirely endemic to California, although it is also found in Mexico and Central America. As the name suggests it is dark brown in colour which makes it fairly inobtrusive even by the standards of the skipper family.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Hesperiidae 
Genus: Lon
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
A widespread breeding migrant throughout much of the Lower 48
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at  Berkeley 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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