Butterflies of Keele

Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages

dingy skipper

Dingy Skippers fly in May and June but they are not common here and, being rather dull in colour, often go un-noticed.

In sunshine, the Dingy Skipper often basks on bare ground with wings spread wide. In dull weather, and at night, it perches on the tops of dead flowerheads in a moth-like fashion, quite unlike any other British butterfly.

The larvae feed on various legumes, especially Birdsfoot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus and Greater Birdsfoot Trefoil L. uliginosa.

There have been no recent sightings.