Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)

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Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)


Photo © Rudi Verovnik
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyPyrginae
GenusPyrgus
Speciesmalvae
Authority(Linnaeus, 1758)
English NameGrizzled Skipper
European Red List 2010Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 Red List 2010Least Concern (LC)
European Red List 2025Near Threatened (NT)
EU 27 Red List 2025Near Threatened (NT)
Habitats Directive
Bern Convention
CITES

Description

Due to data availability we here treat both Pyrgus malvae (LINNAEUS, 1758) and P. malvoides (ELWES & EDWARDS, 1897) as the Grizzled Skipper species complex, knowing that Pyrgus malvoides is mostly recognised as a distinct species. The Grizzled Skipper occurs in many different habitats, mostly on dry, as well as moist, flower-rich grasslands, and also on calcareous grasslands and heaths. The eggs are laid on the underside of the leaves of cinquefoils (Potentilla spp.) and strawberries (Fragaria spp). The caterpillar builds a small shelter from a leaf, in which it stays hidden, feeding on the leaves of the foodplant. The sturdy cocoon in which it pupates is spun from plant remains. This species has one to two broods.

Distribution

Albania / Austria / Belarus / Belgium / Belgium: Flanders / Belgium: Wallonia / Bosnia and Herzegovina / Bulgaria / Croatia / Czechia / Denmark / Estonia / Finland / France / France: Mainland / Germany / Greece / Greece: Mainland / Greece: East Aegean Islands / Hungary / Italy / Italy: Mainland / Latvia / Liechtenstein / Lithuania / Luxembourg / North Macedonia / Moldova / Montenegro / Netherlands / Norway / Poland / Romania / European Russia / Serbia / Serbia: Serbia / Serbia: Kosovo / Slovakia / Slovenia / Sweden / Switzerland / European Türkiye / Ukraine / United Kingdom / United Kingdom: Great Britain /

Larval Foodplants

#OrderFamilyGenusSpeciesVernacular NameLink
1DipsacalesCaprifoliaceaeDipsacusfullonumWild Teasel
2FabalesFabaceaeCoronillaScorpion-vetches
3RosalesRosaceaeAgrimoniaAgrimonies
4RosalesRosaceaeAgrimoniaeupatoriaAgrimony
5RosalesRosaceaeArgentinaanserina
6RosalesRosaceaeComarumpalustreMarsh Cinquefoil
7RosalesRosaceaeFilipendulaulmariaMeadowsweet
8RosalesRosaceaeFragariaStrawberries
9RosalesRosaceaeFragariavescaWild Strawberry
10RosalesRosaceaeFragariaviridis
11RosalesRosaceaeGeumurbanumWood Avens
12RosalesRosaceaePotentillaCinquefoils
13RosalesRosaceaePotentillaargenteaHoary Cinquefoil
14RosalesRosaceaePotentillacinerea
15RosalesRosaceaePotentillaerectaTormentil
16RosalesRosaceaePotentillaheptaphylla
17RosalesRosaceaePotentillapedata
18RosalesRosaceaePotentillapusilla
19RosalesRosaceaePotentillarectaSulphur Cinquefoil
20RosalesRosaceaePotentillareptansCreeping Cinquefoil
21RosalesRosaceaePotentillasterilisBarren Strawberry
22RosalesRosaceaePotentillavernaSpring Cinquefoil
23RosalesRosaceaeRosacaninaDog-rose
24RosalesRosaceaeRubusBrambles
25RosalesRosaceaeRubusBrambles
26RosalesRosaceaeRubuscaesius
27RosalesRosaceaeRubuscanescens
28RosalesRosaceaeRubusfruticosusBramble (agg.)
29RosalesRosaceaeRubusidaeusRaspberry
30RosalesRosaceaeSanguisorbaminor