Persius Duskywing
Erynnis persius (Scudder, 1863)
Family: Hesperiidae
Status: Rare to uncommon local resident
NENHP Ranking: None
Range: Found from Alaska east to Manitoba and south to New Mexico and Arizona and also in the Great Lakes and Appalachian regions. In Nebraska it is restricted to pine ridge habitats in the panhandle.
Larval Hostplant(s): Legumes including Slender and Two-grooved Milkvetches (Astragalus flexuosus and A. bisulcatus), Golden Pea (Thermopsis rhombifolia), Silvery Lupine (Lupinus argenteus) and Lotus purshianus.
Broods/Flight Times: A single extended flight occurs in June and July.
Overwintering: As a full-grown caterpillar.
Habitat: It prefers pine woodlands, meadows, roadsides, and streamsides.
Avg. Wingspan: 1 1/8 – 1 5/8 inches
Found at:
Similar Species: Afranius Duskywing
Notes: Although Marone (2002) considers the Persius Duskywing to be the most common Duskywing in the Black Hills it is rarely reported from Nebraska’s Pine Ridge. It is reported to fly between or slightly overlap the first and second flights of the Afranius Duskywing, which is commonly encountered in the Nebraska panhandle.
Persius Duskywing, Santa Fe Co. NM, Steve Cary
