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| UK Status |
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| Resident |
A species which is continually Resident in the UK with stable breeding populations. |
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| Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Migrant in the UK. It may be able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Migrants are normally reported in the UK every year. |
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| Rare Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Rare Migrant in the UK. It may able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Rare Migrants may not be seen for many years. |
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| Extinct |
A species which is Extinct in the UK, usually as a result of habitat loss. |
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| Introduction |
A species which ocurs in the UK as an accidental introduction. |
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Description
The Small Skipper and Essex Skipper are almost identical in appearance which often makes identification in the field extremely difficult as they are often found living in the same habitats and on the wing at similar times.
 One key difference between the Small Skipper and Essex Skipper is that the Small Skipper has dull brown/orange tips while the Essex Skipper has a distinctive glossy black tips to its antennae. Small Skippers are also slightly more orange in appearance.
The adult butterflies spend much of their time basking or resting on grass stems in typical 'golden skipper' style.
The eggs of the Small Skipper hatch in late summer (unlike those of the Essex Skipper which do not hatch until the following spring) and the tiny young caterpillars hibernate within the sheath of grass where the eggs were laid. The following spring they feed within a shelter constructed by spinning the edges of grass blades together with fine silk threads to make a narrow feeding tube which also protects the caterpillar from predators. They will emerge and feed in the open at night. As the larvae become larger, they tend to spend more time feeding in the open. The caterpillar is yellowish-green in colour with a pale yellow line running along the length of each side of its body. The head is dark green.
Pupation takes place during May and June at the base of the larval food plant within a silken cocoon spun between grass blades. The pupae are pale green in colour. The adult Small Skipper butterflies tend to emerge during early June with peak numbers seen during July. By September very few adults are on the wing.
Habitat
Colonies of the Small Skipper can be found where grasses are allowed to grow tall and lush. Habitats include disused railway lines unimproved rough grassland and verges. Colonies can occur on very small patches of suitable habitat such as a roadside and railway verges.
Larval Food Plants
Various grasses are used including: Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus), Cock's-foot Grass (Dactylis glomerata) and False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum).
Other grasses used include: Timothy Grass (Phleum pratense), Creeping Soft-grass (Holcus mollis), Meadow Foxtail Grass (Alopecurus pratensis) and Tor Grass (Brachypodium pinnatum).
See May. P. R (2003) for more information about larval foodplants. |
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| Stock Photography Library |
| We have 22 photographs of the Small Skipper in the British Butterflies photo library |
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BB1782 - Small Skipper
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BB1781 - Small Skipper
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BB1780 - Small Skipper
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BB1779 - Small Skipper
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BB1769 - Small Skipper
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BB1768 - Small Skipper
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BB1767 - Small Skipper
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BB1766 - Small Skipper
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| Distribution |
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| Found throughout England and Wales as far north as Tyne and Wear the Small Skipper is however absent from North-West Wales Lancashire and Cumbria. Its distribution has expanded northwards in recent years. |
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| Where to see the Small Skipper |
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| Population Trends |
| species status |
the Small Skipper is a resident species in Britain |
| population trend1 |
(1995-2004)  insuficient data |
(1976-2004) insuficient data |
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1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Status |
| UK BAP status2 |
not listed (link) |
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| 2 For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species status, visit www.ukbap.org.uk. |
| IUCN Category Status |
| IUCN category3 |
 least concern4 |
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3 Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4 More information about IUCN categories available here. |
| Find Out More Online* |
| More information about the Small Skipper can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site. |
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Aberrations and Forms |
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| We currently know of 6 named aberrant forms of the Small Skipper. More information about aberrants can be found here. |
 ab. intermedia - Frohawk (1938) |
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| ab. latenigra - Verity (1920) |
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| ab. obscura - Tutt (1906) |
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| ab. pallida - Mosley (1896) |
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| ab. reversa - Tutt (1906) |
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| ab. suffusa - Tutt (1906) |
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| References |
| The information on this web site comes from a variety of freely available resources including books, academic reports and web sites alongside my own personal observations of butterflies. The species descriptions are currently in the process of being edited (spring 2009) to include new data, recent personal observations and referencing following a major update to the site.
A complete list of references mentioned in the text on this web site is available here. |
| * External Links Disclaimer |
| This web site includes links to information provided by external web sites which are not in any way under the control of www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. We cannot, therefore, be held responsible for the content of external web pages. |
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27-34mm
