Small Skipper
Thymelicus sylvestris
National Status
A butterfly of south and south-east England, range expanding. Population trend 10 years to 2016 -66%; since 1976 -88%.
West Midlands Status
Found in all four counties with its stronghold in Worcestershire, range expanding. Population trend 10 years to 2016 – major increase.
Small Skipper was recorded in 387 squares in 2026
10 Year Trend Analysis
Habitat
Warm, grassy areas such as woodland rides, meadows and roadside verges.
Caterpillar Food Plant
The primary larval foodplant is Cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata). Common Couch (Elytrigia repens), Creeping Soft-grass (Holcus mollis), False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum), Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis), Timothy (Phleum pratense) and Tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum) are also used
Life Cycle
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Egg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Larva | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pupa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adult | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flight Period
Late June to August.
First/Last Sightings 2026
| First Sighting | Recorded by | Last Sighting | Recorded by |
| 12 May | Fox, John | 8 August | Harris, Judy |
Distribution Map
Key
Total number of sightings per tetrad
Hotspots
Any area of open dry grassland.