Grizzled Skipper

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The Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family.

Appearance, Behaviour and Distribution

With its characteristic chequered black and white pattern this butterfly is quite distinctive although old, faded individuals can be mistaken for the Dingy Skipper or the Burnet Campion Moth.

It is distributed throughout the Palearctic region except the far North and the Iberian Peninsula, and eastwards as far as China and Korea.

Its main habitat in Britain is chalk downland but others used include scrubby grasslands, woodland clearings and disused artificial habitat. The butterfly occurs throughout southern and central England, and Wales, but has declined in several areas, especially in the non-chalk habitat.

Lifecycle and Foodplants

The females lay eggs singly on species of the Rosaceae, usually Agrimony Agrimonia eupitoria, Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptens and Wild Strawberry Fragaria vesca.

Other plants used occasionally are Barren Strawberry P.sterilis, Tormentil P. erecta, Salad Burnet Sanguisorba minor, Bramble Rubus fruticosus, Dog-rose Rosa canina and Wood Avens Geum urbanum.

On hatching the caterpillars build shelters for use when they are not feeding. The larvae spin pupal cocoons and overwinter before emerging the following spring. The adult butterfly flies from the end of April until the middle of June.

Other Places

Pyrgus Malvae is the name of a faerie who is son of the Purple Emperor, Apatura Iris in the Faerie Wars series by author Herbie Brennan.

References and external links

• Asher, Jim; et al. (2001). The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-850565-5.
• Brereton, T. M.; Bourn, N. A. D., and Warren, M. S. (1998). Species action plan. Grizzled Skipper.
• Whalley, Paul (1981). The Mitchell Beazley Guide to Butterflies. London: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 0-85533-348-0.
• Grizzled Skipper page from Butterfly Conservation
• Pyrgus malvae at Caterpillar Hostplants Database
• Grizzled Skipper page from the UK Butterflies site