# Dingy Skipper (*Erynnis tages*) The Dingy Skipper is a small butterfly with brown wings that like to flutter around grassy areas. They are often seen basking in the sun and are very good at hiding among the grass. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Dingy Skipper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dingy_skipper_%28Erynnis_tages%29_male.jpg&width=800) Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dingy_skipper_%28Erynnis_tages%29_male.jpg) ## Appearance The Dingy Skipper is a small, moth-like butterfly with dull, mottled brown and grey wings. Its forewings often show indistinct dark spots and a row of paler submarginal dots, giving it a 'dingy' appearance distinct from brighter butterflies. It also has a distinctive upright antennae club. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Hesperiidae - **Genus:** Erynnis ## Interesting facts - Dingy Skipper caterpillars build a silken tent from leaves to hide and spend winter in. - They often bask on bare ground, spreading their wings flat to soak up sun like a tiny solar panel! - Unlike many butterflies, their antennae have a distinctive, backward-pointing hook at the tip! - When perched, they hold their hindwings flat and forewings at an angle, unique for butterflies! ## Special abilities - **Ground Camouflage:** Dingy Skipper has mottled brown wings that help them blend perfectly with dry grasses and bare ground, making them hard to spot. - **Rapid Flight:** Dingy Skipper can fly with rapid, jerky movements because of strong wing muscles, helping them evade predators quickly. - **Nectar Feeding Proboscis:** Dingy Skipper has a long, coiled proboscis that helps them reach deep into flowers to sip nectar, fueling their energetic flight. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 29-34 mm - **Size:** 12-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-14 days - **Flight Speed:** 12 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult Dingy Skippers sip sweet nectar from flowers, while caterpillars munch on plant leaves. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat plant leaves, adults drink flower nectar using a proboscis. - **Primary Foods:** Bird's-foot Trefoil leaves, Common Restharrow leaves, Bugle nectar, Dandelion nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Bird's-foot Trefoil](https://www.snappit.app/explore/birds-foot-trefoil) (*Lotus corniculatus*) — Primary larval food plant - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Blue Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-blue-tit) (*Cyanistes caeruleus*) — Common bird predator - **Pollinates:** Common Daisy (*Bellis perennis*) — Adults collect nectar from flowers ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch butterflies, as they are delicate and can get hurt. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Dingy Skipper? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Dingy Skipper's wingspan? 29-34 mm ### How big is Dingy Skipper? 12-15 mm ### How long does Dingy Skipper live? 10-14 days ### How fast can Dingy Skipper fly? 12 km/h ### What does Dingy Skipper eat? Adult Dingy Skippers sip sweet nectar from flowers, while caterpillars munch on plant leaves. ### Where is Dingy Skipper usually found? Grasslands ### How does Dingy Skipper hunt? Foraging ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Dingy Skipper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dingy-skipper)