Sandy Grizzled Skipper
VU

Sandy Grizzled Skipper

Pyrgus cinarae

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_grizzled_skipper

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Sandy Grizzled Skipper faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its Mediterranean range. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the microclimatic conditions required for its host plants and disrupting the butterfly's synchronized life cycle. Overgrazing by livestock has degraded many of the species' remaining grassland habitats, while the abandonment of traditional low-intensity farming practices has led to habitat succession that eliminates the open, flower-rich meadows this skipper requires.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Sandy Grizzled Skipper inhabits dry, calcareous grasslands, scrublands, and rocky slopes in Mediterranean regions, typically at elevations between 500-1,500 meters. It requires areas with abundant flowering plants for nectar sources and specific host plants from the Rosaceae family for larval development.

Other threatened species in Hesperiidae

VU

Olive Skipper

Pyrgus serratulae

Unknown
Tufted Marbled SkipperVU

Tufted Marbled Skipper

Carcharodus floccifera

Unknown
VU

Red Underwing Skipper

Spialia sertorius

Unknown
Northern Chequered SkipperVU

Northern Chequered Skipper

Carterocephalus silvicola

Unknown

Threatened in Albania

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
Scarce BlackneckCR

Scarce Blackneck

Lygephila craccae

Unknown
CR

Struga Trout

Salmo balcanicus

Unknown
EN

Niceforonia adenobrachia

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Sandy Grizzled Skipper classified as Vulnerable?
Sandy Grizzled Skipper is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Sandy Grizzled Skipper faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its Mediterranean range. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the microclimatic conditions required for its host plants and disrupting the butterfly's synchronized life cycle. Overgrazing by livestock has degraded many of the species' remaining grassland habitats, while the abandonment of traditional low-intensity farming practices has led to habitat succession that eliminates the open, flower-rich meadows this skipper requires.
Where does Sandy Grizzled Skipper live?
Sandy Grizzled Skipper occurs in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, and Germany (plus 10 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Sandy Grizzled Skipper?
The main threats to Sandy Grizzled Skipper are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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