Erynnis baptisiae

Last updated

Erynnis baptisiae
Wild Indigo Duskywing - Erynnis baptisiae, Occoquan Regional Park, Lorton, Virginia (33853217085).jpg
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Erynnis
Species:
E. baptisiae
Binomial name
Erynnis baptisiae
(Forbes, 1936)

Erynnis baptisiae, the wild indigo duskywing, is a species of butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in North America from southern Ontario and New England, west to central Nebraska, and south to Georgia, the Gulf Coast, and south-central Texas.

The species is rapidly expanding its range and abundance by colonizing plantings of crown vetch along roadways and railroad beds.

Erynnis lucilius , Erynnis baptisiae and Erynnis persius belong to the "Persius species complex", a confusing group of very similar species.

The wingspan is 35–41 mm. Adults are on wing from late April to early June and again from July to August. There are two generations per year.

Wild indigo duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae) Wild indigo duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae).jpg
Wild indigo duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae)

The larvae mainly feed on Baptisia tinctoria , but have also been recorded on Baptisia australis , Lupinus perennis , Thermopsis villosa and Coronilla varia . Adults feed on nectar from flowers of blackberry, white sweet clover, dogbane, sunflower, crimson clover and probably others.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duskywing</span> Genus of butterflies

Erynnis is a genus in the skippers butterfly family Hesperiidae, known as the duskywings. Erynnis is found in the Neotropical realm and across the Palearctic, but the highest species diversity is in the Nearctic. The genus was erected by Franz von Paula Schrank in 1801.

<i>Lupinus perennis</i> Species of legume

Lupinus perennis is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae.

<i>Baptisia alba</i> Species of legume

Baptisia alba, commonly called white wild indigo or white false indigo, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the bean family Fabaceae. It is native in central and eastern North America, and is typically found in open woodland areas and prairies with tall grasslands.

<i>Erynnis brizo</i> Species of butterfly

Erynnis brizo, the sleepy duskywing or banded oak duskywing, is a species of Hesperiidae butterfly that occurs throughout North America and is commonly confused with E. juvenalis and E. lucilius. The species is listed as threatened in Connecticut and Maine.

<i>Erynnis persius</i> Species of butterfly

Erynnis persius, commonly known as Persius duskywing, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae that occurs in North America. It is a threatened species in Michigan and is protected by law. The subspecies Erynnis persius persius is listed as endangered in the Connecticut by state authorities.

<i>Erynnis icelus</i> Species of butterfly

Erynnis icelus, also known as the dreamy duskywing or aspen dusky wing, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in boreal North America, from the Northwest Territories east across southern Canada to Nova Scotia, south in the western mountains to southern Arizona and southern New Mexico, south in the east to Arkansas, north-eastern Alabama and northern Georgia.

<i>Erynnis funeralis</i> Species of butterfly

Erynnis funeralis, commonly known as the funereal duskywing, is a species of butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from southern United States, south to Argentina and Chile. Strays can be found north up to northern Illinois, north-eastern Nebraska, central Colorado, southern Nevada and central California.

<i>Erynnis propertius</i> Species of butterfly

Erynnis propertius, commonly known as Propertius duskywing, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in along the west coast of North America from southern British Columbia south along the Pacific Slope to Baja California Norte. It is one of the most commonly seen skippers in California.

<i>Erynnis zarucco</i> Species of butterfly

Erynnis zarucco, commonly known as the zarucco duskywing, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found (rarely) from southern Ontario to the southeastern United States.

<i>Erynnis lucilius</i> Species of butterfly

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. It is part of the skipper family because its wings create a skipping pattern.

<i>Erynnis martialis</i> Endangered species of butterfly

Erynnis martialis, commonly known as the mottled duskywing, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in most of the eastern United States and in southern Ontario, and southeastern Manitoba. It is listed as a species of special concern and believed extirpated in the US state of Connecticut.

<i>Baptisia bracteata</i> Species of legume

Baptisia bracteata, otherwise known as longbract wild indigo, long-bract wild indigo, long-bracted wild indigo, plains wild indigo, cream false indigo, or cream wild indigo, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Fabaceae (bean) family that is native to the central and eastern United States. It is one of the earliest blooming species of Baptisia, beginning to bloom in March in certain areas of the United States. The flower clusters (racemes) spread out sideways or sprawl across the ground, unlike most other Baptisia species, which have vertical racemes.

<i>Erynnis tristis</i> Species of butterfly

Erynnis tristis, commonly known as the mournful duskywing, is a species of spread-wing skipper in the butterfly family Hesperiidae. It is found in Central America, North America, and South America. It is mottled brown with a white fringe on the hind wings. It appears similar to the funereal duskywing, but the mournful duskywing is more likely to appear in urban areas. The larva feeds on young oaks while adults nectar from a variety of wild and garden flowers.

References

  1. "NatureServe Explorer 2.0 Erynnis baptisiae Wild Indigo Duskywing". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 29 September 2020.