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).
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 193 - 216 of 673 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 16, 2011
Submitted by: cpcdolan
Region: Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 15, 2011
Observation date: Jun 11, 2011
Submitted by: davidwdroppers
Region: Chelan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 24, 2011
Observation date: Jan 01, 1994
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Giles)
Region: New London County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Gall, L.; Wagner, D.; O'Donnell, J.)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 19, 2006
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Esmeralda County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jan 01, 1960
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Remington)
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Gall, L.; Wagner, D.; O'Donnell, J.)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 23, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Glassberg, J.)
Region: New London County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Gall, L.; Wagner, D.; O'Donnell, J.)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jan 01, 1957
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Hessel)
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Gall, L.; Wagner, D.; O'Donnell, J.)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jan 01, 1924
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Rogers)
Region: New Haven County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Gall, L.; Wagner, D.; O'Donnell, J.)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 01, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kriegel, Robert)
Region: Montcalm County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 23, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Wagner, D. L.)
Region: New London County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Gall, L.; Wagner, D.; O'Donnell, J.)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jan 01, 1994
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Maier)
Region: Windham County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Gall, L.; Wagner, D.; O'Donnell, J.)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jan 01, 1909
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Gall, L.; Wagner, D.; O'Donnell, J.)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 31, 2010
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: paulopler
Verified date: Jan 23, 2011
Observation date: Jul 06, 1993
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 02, 2010
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Jul 18, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Opler and EviBuckner-Opler )
Region: Fremont County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Jun 27, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (William Bouton)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 09, 1990
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Sacramento County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jul 27, 1989
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Richard Kelson)
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jun 05, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Laurence Crabtree)
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Apr 02, 2010
Observation date: Jul 01, 1984
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James A. Scott)
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Apr 02, 2010
Observation date: May 21, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Laurence Crabtree)
Region: Lassen County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Apr 02, 2010
Observation date: Jul 03, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Mar 09, 2010
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