Butterflies
Skippers
Whites
Hairstreaks
Blues and Coppers
Admirals
Vannesids
Fritallaries
Browns
Wingspan 29mm
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Butterflies 1976-2020
Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages
This butterfly was locally very common on the hillsides around Eynsford and Shoreham after the storms of 1987 -1991, it currently has a limited presence at High Elms, but is secure at Fackenden, White Hill, Shoreham. It is on the wing in very late April and May into June and can often be seen in company with the Grizzled Skipper, Yet to be recorded in Bromley Common area, but is likely to be found in adjacent areas based on chalk soil.
Habit: flies low among rough uncultivated grasses and herbage with whirring (moth like) movement coming to rest fairly frequently - occasionally with wings raised in a vee. Can be confused with small day flying moths from drab appearance - (mother shipton).
Single brooded (occasional second). Pale green larvae over-winters in fully grown form in protective silken tent on foodplant.
Larval Foodplant: trefoils and vetches
Status: not under threat, but receding after it expanded substantially in the years following the great storms of 1987 and 1990. Present in Shoreham and Eynsford, High Elms and other downland areas
WH - White Hill Shoreham, BC - Bromley Common, BIC-Bickley, Kes - Keston, Ha - Hayes --BN - Bromley North - Ey Eynsford - Orp-Orpington, FACK - Fackenden Down and Bank
Thanks to Howard Walmsley and David Davis, Fred O'Hare
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