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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 382 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 21, 2022
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 22, 2022
Observation date: Jun 25, 2022
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 05, 2022
Observation date: Jun 25, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
Observation date: Jun 21, 2022
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2022
Observation date: Jun 12, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Stanislaus County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 15, 2022
Observation date: Jun 08, 2022
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 10, 2022
Observation date: Jun 02, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 07, 2022
Observation date: Apr 19, 2011
Submitted by: Kari
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 30, 2022
Observation date: May 21, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 25, 2022
Observation date: May 20, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 21, 2022
Observation date: May 01, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 02, 2022
Observation date: Feb 10, 2022
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 12, 2017
Submitted by: carlakish
Region: Gila County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 17, 2013
Submitted by: carlakish
Region: Gila County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Feb 06, 2022
Observation date: Nov 03, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 03, 2021
Observation date: Oct 13, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 14, 2021
Observation date: Sep 25, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 26, 2021
Observation date: Sep 04, 2021
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 13, 2021
Observation date: Aug 01, 2021
Submitted by: Alanglazier
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
Observation date: Aug 02, 2021
Submitted by: Chris Rice
Region: San Joaquin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 02, 2021
Observation date: Jul 23, 2021
Submitted by: nockamixon
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 23, 2021
Observation date: Jun 06, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 08, 2021
Observation date: Apr 30, 2021
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 20, 2021
Observation date: May 07, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 08, 2021
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