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 282 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Mar 15, 2016
Submitted by: mbowling
Region: Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jan 12, 2018
Observation date: Apr 09, 2016
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 10, 2017
Observation date: Aug 09, 2006
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 05, 2017
Observation date: Jul 28, 2016
Submitted by: idbirds
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 27, 2017
Observation date: Aug 23, 2017
Submitted by: wapperdude
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 26, 2017
Observation date: Aug 18, 2017
Submitted by: SMulhearn
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 20, 2017
Observation date: Jul 29, 2017
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2017
Observation date: Jul 20, 2017
Submitted by: 4lepidopterans
Region: Yolo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 22, 2017
Observation date: Jul 10, 2017
Submitted by: philohela
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 16, 2017
Observation date: Jul 12, 2017
Submitted by: philohela
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 16, 2017
Observation date: Jun 20, 2017
Submitted by: Mzteachuh
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 06, 2017
Observation date: Mar 16, 2017
Submitted by: rob77897@gmail.com
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 17, 2017
Observation date: Apr 04, 2017
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 09, 2017
Observation date: Mar 28, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 03, 2017
Observation date: Mar 07, 2017
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 13, 2017
Observation date: Mar 09, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 13, 2017
Observation date: Jul 30, 2016
Submitted by: A.Y.Liang
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 25, 2017
Observation date: Jul 30, 2016
Submitted by: A.Y.Liang
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 25, 2017
Observation date: Aug 06, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 08, 2017
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