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 49 - 72 of 662 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Apr 22, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 27, 2022
Observation date: May 04, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 31, 2021
Observation date: Jun 05, 2010
Submitted by: tsimpson
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 21, 2021
Observation date: Jun 12, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 02, 2019
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 23, 2020
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 04, 2019
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 31, 2021
Observation date: Aug 03, 2021
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 20, 2021
Submitted by: NBBAM
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 24, 2021
Observation date: Jun 20, 2021
Submitted by: NBBAM
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 24, 2021
Observation date: Jul 19, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 20, 2021
Observation date: Jul 15, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 19, 2021
Observation date: Jun 05, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Jul 09, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 14, 2021
Observation date: Jul 14, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 14, 2021
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