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 315 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 11, 2019
Submitted by: GI JAG
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 15, 2019
Observation date: Sep 11, 2019
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 11, 2019
Observation date: Feb 13, 2019
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 02, 2019
Observation date: Aug 13, 2019
Submitted by: EarlByron
Region: Yolo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 15, 2019
Observation date: Aug 04, 2019
Submitted by: JanetNadol
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 05, 2019
Observation date: Jul 27, 2019
Submitted by: jmthornton
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 02, 2019
Observation date: Jul 21, 2019
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 01, 2019
Observation date: Jul 22, 2019
Submitted by: alicecas
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 22, 2019
Observation date: Jul 17, 2019
Submitted by: cevmendo
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 18, 2019
Observation date: Jul 08, 2019
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 11, 2019
Observation date: Jun 26, 2019
Submitted by: gregslak
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 27, 2019
Observation date: Jun 16, 2019
Submitted by: gkingery
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 19, 2019
Observation date: May 12, 2019
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 13, 2019
Observation date: Feb 23, 2019
Submitted by: XplorMor Intern...
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 20, 2019
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
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