Erynnis lucilius

Erynnis lucilius, the columbine duskywing, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in North America from southern Quebec to Manitoba and south to the north-eastern United States.[1]

Columbine duskywing
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Erynnis
Species:
E. lucilius
Binomial name
Erynnis lucilius
(Scudder & Burgess, 1870)
Synonyms
  • Thanaos lucilius Lintner, 1872

The wingspan is 21–29 mm. There are two generations in the east from early May to mid-June.[1]

Nutrition

The larvae and mature caterpillars feed on leaves while adult butterflies consume flower nectar.[2]

Lifecycle

Larva eggs are attached on the underside of plant leaves. Once hatched, the larva consume the surrounding plant leaves and rest from time to time in the shade of plants. Larva continue to eat until they fully mature as caterpillars. At full maturity, caterpillars begin their hibernation to being their transformation into adult butterflies. Adult Duskywings pollinate plants as they consume nectar and seek out another butterfly to mate with. After mating, female Duskywings lay their newly born eggs on the underside of a plant leaf ready to hatch.[2]

Appearance

The Duskywing will appear in shades of brown. The underside of the hindwing has marginal spots. Males of the species have a costal fold containing yellow-colored "scent scales" to provide a sense of smell.[2] Females of the species have their "scent scales" on the 7th abdominal segment.[2]

Habitat

Duskywings can be found in ecosystems containing ravines and gullies. Mostly living in rocky and deciduous woodland forests, the Duskywing will prefer natural shady areas to rest with plenty of leafy plants for consumption.[2]

References
  1. Columbine Duskywing, Butterflies of Canada
  2. "Columbine Duskywing Erynnis lucilius (Scudder & Burgess, 1870) | Butterflies and Moths of North America". www.butterfliesandmoths.org. Retrieved 2020-09-23.


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