Columbine Duskywing
Erynnis lucilius (Scudder & Burgess, 1870)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Upperside is dark brown; brown patch at end of forewing cell is indistinct. Underside of hindwing has marginal and submarginal rows of well-defined pale spots. Male has a costal fold containing yellow scent scales; female has a patch of scent scales on the 7th abdominal segment.
Wing Span: 1 3/16 - 1 5/8 inches (3 - 4.2 cm).
Life History: Females deposit eggs singly under leaves of the host plant. Caterpillars feed on leaves and rest in shelters of leaves. Fully-grown caterpillars from the second brood hibernate.
Flight: Two broods from April-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) and sometimes garden columbine (A. vulgaris) in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Rocky deciduous or mixed woodland and edges, especially in ravines or gullies.
Range: Southern Quebec and southern New England west to Minnesota; south to New Jersey and Pennsylvania; south along the Appalachians to Virginia and Kentucky. Comments: The Columbine, Wild Indigo, and Persius dusky wings belong to the "Persius complex," a confusing group of very similar butterflies.
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 235 verified sightings
Observation date: May 18, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 18, 2023
Observation date: Apr 15, 2017
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Polk County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 01, 2022
Observation date: Apr 10, 2021
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Polk County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 30, 2022
Observation date: Aug 22, 2021
Submitted by: bevseyler
Region: Niagara County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Mar 03, 2022
Observation date: Jul 22, 2020
Submitted by: Clare Holden
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 24, 2020
Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Newaygo County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 07, 2020
Observation date: Jun 12, 2018
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Mar 04, 2019
Observation date: Jun 12, 2018
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Mar 04, 2019
Observation date: Aug 11, 2018
Submitted by: Ellen Riggins
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 12, 2018
Observation date: Jun 08, 2018
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Keweenaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 30, 2018
Observation date: Jul 11, 2018
Submitted by: johngor
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 13, 2018
Observation date: May 16, 2018
Submitted by: bweil
Region: Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 16, 2018
Observation date: May 20, 2017
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 29, 2017
Observation date: Jul 24, 2016
Submitted by: davidboon
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 27, 2016
Observation date: Jul 17, 2016
Submitted by: soluslupus13
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 24, 2016
Observation date: May 08, 2012
Submitted by: pvoorheis
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Feb 08, 2016
Observation date: May 18, 2013
Submitted by: soluslupus13
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 29, 2016
Observation date: Jul 26, 2014
Submitted by: b.cn.u
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 08, 2014
Observation date: Jul 17, 2013
Submitted by: beastbreath
Region: Clinton County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 11, 2014
Observation date: May 22, 2014
Submitted by: GalGari
Region: St. Lawrence County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 27, 2014
Observation date: May 21, 2014
Submitted by: Steven Daniel
Region: Jefferson County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 27, 2014
Observation date: Aug 11, 2013
Submitted by: soluslupus13
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jan 19, 2014
Observation date: Jul 22, 2009
Submitted by: beastbreath
Region: Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Noel Mac Neil
Verified date: Dec 31, 2013
Observation date: Aug 16, 2013
Submitted by: mmwm
Region: Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: Jim Edsall
Verified date: Sep 04, 2013
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