Persius Duskywing
Erynnis persius (Scudder, 1863)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Upperside is brown-black. Forewing has few clear dots and very dim markings; patch at end of cell is grayish. Male forewing has many raised white hairs. Hindwing fringes are dark. Male has a costal fold containing yellow scent scales; female has a patch of scent scales on the 7th abdominal segment.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 5/8 inches (2.9 - 4.2 cm).
Life History: During the day males perch on hilltops to seek females, usually sitting on the ground or on low twigs. Females lay eggs singly under leaves of the host plants. Caterpillars feed on leaves and live in shelters of rolled or tied leaves. Fully-grown caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One brood from April-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Lupine (Lupinus), golden banner (Thermopsis), Lotus, and other legumes.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open areas including mountain grasslands, marshes, sand plains, seeps, streamsides.
Range: In the west, from Alaska and the McKenzie River delta south to southeastern Manitoba; south through the western mountains to southern California, southern Arizona, and southeast New Mexico. In the east, northern New England west to Wisconsin; south in the Appalachians to Virginia. Comments: The Columbine, Wild Indigo, and Persius dusky wings belong to the "Persius complex," a confusing group of very similar butterflies.
Conservation: Populations in the Midwest and Northeast found in pine-oak barrens should be monitored and conserved.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Manage habitat of lupine-feeding populations by mechanical disturbance or infrequent burns (no more frequent than every 5 years).
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 573 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 19, 2020
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 11, 2020
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Powell County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 13, 2020
Observation date: Jun 22, 2020
Submitted by: greenecycle
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 30, 2020
Observation date: May 29, 2020
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: Jun 06, 2020
Observation date: May 19, 2020
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 19, 2020
Observation date: May 10, 2020
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 10, 2020
Observation date: Apr 26, 2020
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 02, 2020
Observation date: Jul 21, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Gilpin County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Apr 11, 2020
Observation date: May 10, 2019
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 23, 2020
Observation date: Aug 13, 2019
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 08, 2020
Observation date: Jul 21, 2018
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 08, 2020
Observation date: Jul 28, 2019
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 31, 2019
Observation date: Jun 01, 2019
Submitted by: gasigr
Region: Jefferson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 03, 2019
Observation date: Jun 16, 2019
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 04, 2019
Observation date: Jun 15, 2019
Submitted by: donahilkey
Region: Rio Blanco County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 25, 2019
Observation date: Jun 08, 2019
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 24, 2019
Observation date: Jun 29, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2019
Observation date: Jul 05, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2019
Observation date: Jun 30, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2019
Observation date: Jun 30, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2019
Observation date: Jun 26, 2019
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 11, 2019
Observation date: Jun 23, 2019
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 26, 2019
Observation date: May 06, 2019
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 09, 2019
Observation date: May 04, 2019
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 09, 2019
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