Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 1331463

Afranius Duskywing
Erynnis afranius

Observation date: July 06, 2022
Submitted by: twofried
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Seems to have the 2 (worn) white spots on the apex of the VHW. But, to me seemed small for a Duskywing which would rather point to Persius.
Status: Resident
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: July 10, 2022
Coordinator notes: Afranius is my best guess, and I give myself a 90% probability of being right. It's too late for spring-flying Rocky Mountain, whose VHW pale apical spots stand out from other spots more than on your pic. "Small" is the best clue and I'm glad you said it because it cannot be read from a photo. Being small, it is 100% either persius or afranius. Distinguishing those two is tough. Male persius have much more silver overscaling on the dorsal forewing than this one does; afranius is a gully patroller while persius is a hilltop patroller, so I lean on the locality as much as anything.
Checklist region(s): United States, New Mexico, Taos County