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 353 verified sightings
Observation date: Feb 18, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 19, 2021
Observation date: Feb 10, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 11, 2021
Observation date: Feb 05, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 07, 2021
Observation date: Oct 17, 2020
Submitted by: IshaanRJoseph
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 21, 2020
Observation date: Oct 19, 2020
Submitted by: jodypic
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 20, 2020
Observation date: Sep 24, 2020
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 03, 2020
Observation date: Sep 18, 2020
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 18, 2020
Observation date: Sep 16, 2020
Submitted by: jodypic
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 18, 2020
Observation date: Sep 14, 2020
Submitted by: jodypic
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 14, 2020
Observation date: Jul 01, 2020
Submitted by: cjbruchman
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 05, 2020
Observation date: Sep 02, 2020
Submitted by: Axarus
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 03, 2020
Observation date: Aug 31, 2020
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 03, 2020
Observation date: Aug 26, 2020
Submitted by: butterflies4us
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 26, 2020
Observation date: Aug 24, 2020
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 25, 2020
Observation date: Jul 26, 2020
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 28, 2020
Observation date: Jul 22, 2020
Submitted by: Mzteachuh
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 11, 2020
Submitted by: KiraRuby
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2020
Observation date: Jun 08, 2020
Submitted by: riessespieces
Region: Stanislaus County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 18, 2020
Observation date: May 31, 2020
Submitted by: zbeckb
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2020
Observation date: Jun 02, 2020
Submitted by: alicecas
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 03, 2020
Observation date: May 29, 2020
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 30, 2020
Observation date: May 13, 2020
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 24, 2020
Observation date: May 06, 2020
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 08, 2020
Observation date: May 02, 2020
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 03, 2020
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