Persius Duskywing
Erynnis persius (Scudder, 1863)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Upperside is brown-black. Forewing has few clear dots and very dim markings; patch at end of cell is grayish. Male forewing has many raised white hairs. Hindwing fringes are dark. Male has a costal fold containing yellow scent scales; female has a patch of scent scales on the 7th abdominal segment.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 5/8 inches (2.9 - 4.2 cm).
Life History: During the day males perch on hilltops to seek females, usually sitting on the ground or on low twigs. Females lay eggs singly under leaves of the host plants. Caterpillars feed on leaves and live in shelters of rolled or tied leaves. Fully-grown caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One brood from April-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Lupine (Lupinus), golden banner (Thermopsis), Lotus, and other legumes.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open areas including mountain grasslands, marshes, sand plains, seeps, streamsides.
Range: In the west, from Alaska and the McKenzie River delta south to southeastern Manitoba; south through the western mountains to southern California, southern Arizona, and southeast New Mexico. In the east, northern New England west to Wisconsin; south in the Appalachians to Virginia. Comments: The Columbine, Wild Indigo, and Persius dusky wings belong to the "Persius complex," a confusing group of very similar butterflies.
Conservation: Populations in the Midwest and Northeast found in pine-oak barrens should be monitored and conserved.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Manage habitat of lupine-feeding populations by mechanical disturbance or infrequent burns (no more frequent than every 5 years).
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 661 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 02, 2024
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 06, 2024
Observation date: May 30, 2024
Submitted by: James F Parker
Region: Southeast Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 07, 2024
Observation date: Jun 05, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 05, 2024
Observation date: Jun 21, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 03, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 06, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 01, 2024
Observation date: May 29, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: Columbia County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
Observation date: May 31, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 02, 2024
Observation date: May 12, 2024
Submitted by: wildebynature
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 27, 2024
Observation date: May 24, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 24, 2024
Observation date: May 22, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: May 07, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 07, 2024
Observation date: Apr 24, 2024
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 26, 2024
Observation date: Apr 24, 2024
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 26, 2024
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 03, 2023
Observation date: Jul 16, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 20, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 02, 2023
Observation date: Jul 18, 2023
Submitted by: Lupine1
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: Jun 25, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
Observation date: Jun 21, 2023
Submitted by: pauhana
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 02, 2023
Observation date: May 29, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 31, 2023
Observation date: May 20, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Kitsap County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 22, 2023
Observation date: May 16, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 20, 2023
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