Mournful Duskywing
Erynnis tristis (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Male has a costal fold containing yellow scent scales; female has a patch of scent scales on the 7th abdominal segment. Upperside of wings is dark brown-black with some transparent spots. Spots are larger in the female. Underside of hindwing is dark brown with a row of long white spots near the margin.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 15/16 inches (3.2 - 4.9 cm).
Life History: Males perch on hilltops all day to watch for females. Eggs are laid singly on new growth of the host plant. Caterpillars feed on young leaves and rest in shelters of rolled or tied leaves. Caterpillars of the last brood hibernate.
Flight: Three broods in Texas from March-April, June-July, and September-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various oaks including coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), blue oak (Q. douglasii), and valley oak (Q. lobata).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Oak woodlands.
Range: Northern California south through central Arizona, southern New Mexico, the mountains of Mexico, and Central America to Colombia. Strays to South Texas.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 450 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 31, 2025
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 01, 2025
Observation date: Jun 14, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 31, 2025
Observation date: Jul 28, 2025
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 20, 2025
Observation date: Jul 25, 2025
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 25, 2025
Observation date: Jul 14, 2025
Submitted by: rchensley
Region: Texas, Kendall County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 15, 2025
Observation date: May 25, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 29, 2025
Observation date: May 25, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 29, 2025
Observation date: Mar 30, 2025
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 17, 2025
Observation date: Apr 18, 2025
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 22, 2025
Observation date: Mar 26, 2025
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 14, 2025
Observation date: Apr 08, 2025
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 08, 2025
Observation date: Apr 06, 2025
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 07, 2025
Observation date: Oct 29, 2024
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Mar 17, 2025
Observation date: Mar 08, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 10, 2025
Observation date: Feb 22, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 24, 2025
Observation date: Jun 28, 1982
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 06, 2024
Observation date: Jul 07, 1983
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 06, 2024
Observation date: Aug 10, 1992
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Glenn County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 06, 2024
Observation date: Oct 28, 2024
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 28, 2024
Observation date: Sep 22, 2024
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 22, 2024
Observation date: Aug 24, 2024
Submitted by: Jennabrooke
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 24, 2024
Observation date: Aug 24, 2024
Submitted by: Jennabrooke
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 24, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 24, 2024
Observation date: May 07, 2023
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Bandera County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
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