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 629 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 02, 2020
Submitted by: Robert Gibson
Region: Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Jun 09, 2022
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: Garfield County, Washington, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Nov 05, 2022
Observation date: Jun 18, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Jun 22, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: Jun 18, 2021
Submitted by: sharper
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 07, 2022
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 19, 2022
Observation date: Jun 01, 1986
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 16, 2022
Observation date: Jul 30, 2022
Submitted by: falco1
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 01, 2022
Observation date: Jul 23, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 21, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 22, 2022
Observation date: Jul 12, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 18, 2022
Observation date: Jul 22, 2021
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 18, 2022
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 13, 2022
Observation date: Jun 02, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 29, 2022
Observation date: Jun 02, 2022
Submitted by: Canyon Wren
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 28, 2022
Observation date: Jun 02, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 28, 2022
Observation date: Jun 09, 2022
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: Garfield County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 13, 2022
Observation date: May 23, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 24, 2022
Observation date: May 17, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 19, 2022
Observation date: May 05, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 17, 2022
Observation date: Apr 24, 2022
Submitted by: Lyndie Mason Warner
Region: Navajo County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 05, 2022
Observation date: Apr 27, 2022
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 03, 2022
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