''Erynnis lucilius'', the columbine duskywing, is a

butterfly Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The group comprise ...

of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in North America from southern

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and south to the northeastern United States.Columbine Duskywing
Butterflies of Canada The

wingspan The wingspan (or just span) of a bird or an airplane is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777–200 has a wingspan of , and a wandering albatross (''Diomedea exulans'') caught in 1965 had a wingspan o ...

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

Nutrition

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

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.

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. Females of the species have their "scent scales" on the 7th abdominal segment.

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.

References

External links

Columbine Duskywing
Nearctica
Columbine Duskywing
BugGuide Erynnis Butterflies described in 1870 Butterflies of North America Taxa named by Samuel Hubbard Scudder {{Pyrginae-stub