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 548 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 11, 2006
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 25, 2019
Observation date: Jun 06, 2017
Submitted by: mbalame99
Region: Clatsop County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2018
Observation date: Jul 13, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 09, 2018
Observation date: Jul 14, 2018
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 16, 2018
Observation date: May 17, 2018
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 08, 2018
Observation date: Jun 26, 2018
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jul 01, 2018
Observation date: May 27, 2018
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 27, 2018
Observation date: Jun 16, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 24, 2018
Observation date: May 21, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 24, 2018
Observation date: Jun 15, 2017
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Weston County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 11, 2017
Observation date: Jun 13, 2017
Submitted by: RobertWeeden
Region: Yukon-Koyukuk, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 23, 2017
Observation date: Jun 07, 2017
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 23, 2017
Observation date: Apr 25, 2016
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 23, 2017
Observation date: Jun 15, 2016
Submitted by: Bill Thompson 2524
Region: Teton County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 17, 2017
Observation date: Jun 27, 2017
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 22, 2017
Observation date: Aug 29, 2016
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 01, 2016
Observation date: Aug 29, 2016
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 01, 2016
Observation date: Aug 09, 2016
Submitted by: yardbird
Region: Calaveras County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 17, 2016
Observation date: Jul 24, 2016
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 26, 2016
Observation date: Jul 05, 2016
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Yukon Territory, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 26, 2016
Observation date: May 12, 2016
Submitted by: Jodydeloy
Region: Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jun 01, 2016
Observation date: May 13, 2016
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jun 01, 2016
Observation date: May 04, 2016
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 19, 2016
Observation date: Jul 17, 2013
Submitted by: richtrebbien
Region: Valley County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 29, 2016
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