Wingspan: 20–28 mm
Flight period of butterflies: in two generations from April to June and from July to August
Larval host plants: species from the genera Potentilla (Potentilla), Rubus (Rubus) and Fragaria (Fragaria)
The common grizzled skipper (Pyrgus malvae) is actually the only common species of this genus in Slovenia. The black-brown upperside of its wings is along the body clothed in grayish hairs, while the rest is adorned with a pattern of white, more or less angular spots. This pattern is highly contrasted also on the upperside of the hindwings. From the other species of this genus, the common grizzled skipper is distinguished by a row of dispersed white spots along the margin of the upperside of the forewings, which is not present in other species. The border band along the wing edge is distinctly white and black. The olive-brown underside of the wings is speckled with angular white spots.
The common grizzled skipper occurs up to the forest edge, but is much more common in the lowlands. It is widespread throughout Slovenia, but it prefers warm areas the most.
It preferably lives in small, well-tended, colorfully blooming meadows, it also does well in both dry and moist meadows and also in somewhat overgrown pastures. The species is very adaptable and can also live in distinctly anthropogenic habitats, for example in abandoned quarries, on road verges or embankments.
