Dingy Skipper:

National Status: The most widely distributed of the skippers, found locally throughout the UK, range contracting. Population trend 10 years +69%; since 1976 -19%.
West Midlands Status: Scattered populations in the four counties, range contracting. Population trend: 10 years – decreasing after good years in 2011 and 2012.
Hotspots: Wyre Forest and Penny Hill Bank in Worcestershire, Oswestry Hills in Shropshire, Stoke-on-Trent area and Cannock Chase in Staffordshire and brownfield sites in the Black Country. Sites: Llanymynech Rocks; Lea Quarry; Baggeridge Country Park.

Habitat: Close-grazed grassy areas, brownfield sites, quarries and well-managed woodland rides.

Flight Period: Late April to late June

Wingspan 27–34 mm.

Caterpillar Food Plant:The main foodplant is Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Greater Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus) and Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) are also used.

Life Cycle

The Charts show the distribution over the last 5 years from 2020 to 2024
The Population Trend from Transect Records from 2019 to 2024 The population trend from transect shows a slight downward trend however the results from time counts shows a stable, population.
Phenology from All Records: