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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
Pollinator Week was June 20-26, 2022!
Butterflies and moths are accidental pollinators of many flowering plants. While most species do not have special structures to carry pollen, they do brush against pollen and transfer it to other flowers.
Did you know? The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) flies close to the ground and uses its short proboscis to probe flowers of wild strawberry, white sweet clover, and other low-lying plants.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 614 verified sightings

Observation date: Jun 28, 2019
Submitted by: HansPG
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021

Observation date: Jun 16, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 03, 2021

Observation date: Jun 03, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 17, 2021

Observation date: Jun 08, 2021
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 15, 2021

Observation date: Jun 12, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 13, 2021

Observation date: May 25, 2021
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 26, 2021

Observation date: May 07, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 08, 2021

Observation date: Apr 29, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 03, 2021

Observation date: Jul 18, 2018
Submitted by: 4oclockwatch
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 28, 2021

Observation date: Jun 12, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 24, 2021

Observation date: Jul 05, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Carbon County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 24, 2021

Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 24, 2021

Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 24, 2021

Observation date: Jun 27, 2020
Submitted by: flusteredfly
Region: Blaine County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021

Observation date: Jun 06, 2020
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Custer County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 14, 2020

Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 02, 2020

Observation date: Jun 13, 2020
Submitted by: lottiwe
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 28, 2020

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
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