Welcome to our second blog looking at species in Surrey which are feature on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s list of endangered species. 

Last time we looked at the Pochard duck, and this time we are going to look at a butterfly species that some may be surprised to find listed. This is the Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), one of eight species of skipper found in the UK and now listed as Vulnerable. 

This butterfly species should be a common sight on chalk to neutral grasslands because the caterpillars’ food plant is Yorkshire Fog (Holcus lanatus) - a common grass which you can even find growing in your own garden. 

So why has the Butterfly wound up on the list? Well, the list considers populations across the world, and this species can be found all over the Eurasian northern hemisphere belt. 

However, in the UK it is decreasing locally by up to 70%. This is, as is so often the case in the UK, due to habitat destruction and the use of pesticides.  Additionally, Yorkshire Fog is widely regarded as a weed and is often dug up or removed. 

The Small Skipper is not an easy butterfly to identify and can often be confused with the Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola).  However, the antennae of the Essex Skipper have black tips whilst those of the Small Skipper have orange tips. 

They are masterful at flying and often peak in high summer, flittering throughout the long sward of the grasslands. The butterfly is widespread in southern England, but it seems to be spreading north; this is certain to be a sign of global warming. Indeed, the populations of many species in the UK are shifting north from their historical positions. 

Habitat restoration seems to the be key to helping this species.  The Trust’s vital work to save our grasslands and make sure they are better connected would certainly benefit this species. 

Pollinators are in trouble and without our help they will continue to show significant declines.  It is sad to see fairly common species like the Small Skipper sliding onto the IUCN’s list of Endangered Species, but there is plenty we can all do about it!