Mournful Duskywing
Erynnis tristis (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Male has a costal fold containing yellow scent scales; female has a patch of scent scales on the 7th abdominal segment. Upperside of wings is dark brown-black with some transparent spots. Spots are larger in the female. Underside of hindwing is dark brown with a row of long white spots near the margin.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 15/16 inches (3.2 - 4.9 cm).
Life History: Males perch on hilltops all day to watch for females. Eggs are laid singly on new growth of the host plant. Caterpillars feed on young leaves and rest in shelters of rolled or tied leaves. Caterpillars of the last brood hibernate.
Flight: Three broods in Texas from March-April, June-July, and September-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various oaks including coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), blue oak (Q. douglasii), and valley oak (Q. lobata).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Oak woodlands.
Range: Northern California south through central Arizona, southern New Mexico, the mountains of Mexico, and Central America to Colombia. Strays to South Texas.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 301 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 17, 2019
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 20, 2019
Observation date: Feb 25, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 26, 2019
Observation date: Aug 04, 2018
Submitted by: KateTweedy
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Feb 05, 2019
Observation date: Nov 08, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 24, 2019
Observation date: Nov 07, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 30, 2018
Observation date: Nov 08, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 27, 2018
Observation date: Nov 03, 2018
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 21, 2018
Observation date: Sep 16, 2018
Submitted by: Mark F
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 17, 2018
Observation date: Sep 14, 2018
Submitted by: Fritz Riedel
Region: Calaveras County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 08, 2018
Observation date: Aug 06, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 06, 2018
Observation date: Jul 23, 2018
Submitted by: philohela
Region: Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 30, 2018
Observation date: Jun 20, 2018
Submitted by: Mikaelsen
Region: Placer County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 21, 2018
Observation date: Jul 05, 2018
Submitted by: starmock
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 08, 2018
Observation date: Jun 24, 2018
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2018
Observation date: Jun 22, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 24, 2018
Observation date: Nov 08, 2013
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 07, 2018
Observation date: Jun 03, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2018
Observation date: May 17, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 20, 2018
Observation date: Apr 19, 2018
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 28, 2018
Observation date: Apr 04, 2018
Submitted by: 4lepidopterans
Region: Yolo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 10, 2018
Observation date: Mar 31, 2018
Submitted by: breck7348
Region: San Joaquin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2018
Observation date: Feb 06, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 08, 2018
Observation date: Jan 24, 2018
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 08, 2018
Observation date: Nov 14, 2017
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 31, 2018
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