Sleepy Duskywing - Hodges#3946
Erynnis brizo
This record describes Erynnis brizo (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Forewings lack translucent spots. Compare Dreamy Duskywing, E. icelus. See Internet, print references.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Pyrginae
- Tribe
- Erynnini
- Genus
- Erynnis (Duskywings)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Dry oak or oak/pine woodlands, usually on sandy or shaly soil.
Geographic Range
Eastern United States, plus southwestern United States into Mexico, parts of California.
Seasonal Activity
April-May, early June (northern part of range, e.g., New York, Wisconsin), March-April (North Carolina), January-May (Florida, Texas)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults take nectar, especially from heath family (Ericaceae) plants. They also take fluids from mud, etc.
Life History
Larvae feed on oaks of dry habitats, including Scrub Oak, Quercus ilicifolia and Black Oak, Quercus velutina . Larvae live in nests of rolled oak leaves and overwinter there, pupate and emerge in spring. Males "hilltop", or patrol hostplants to seek females. One flight per year.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Erynnis brizo. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Sleepy Duskywing - Hodges#3946 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Nick Block
Frequently Asked Questions About Sleepy Duskywing - Hodges#3946
What is Sleepy Duskywing - Hodges#3946?
Sleepy Duskywing - Hodges#3946 (Erynnis brizo) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sleepy Duskywing - Hodges#3946?
Wingspan 28-41 mm
How do you identify Sleepy Duskywing - Hodges#3946?
Forewings lack translucent spots. Compare Dreamy Duskywing, E. icelus. See Internet, print references.
Where is Sleepy Duskywing - Hodges#3946 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Dry oak or oak/pine woodlands, usually on sandy or shaly soil. |
| Range | Eastern United States, plus southwestern United States into Mexico, parts of California. |
What does Sleepy Duskywing - Hodges#3946 eat?
The diet of the Sleepy Duskywing - Hodges#3946 includes Adults take nectar, especially from heath family (Ericaceae) plants. They also take fluids from mud, etc..
When is Sleepy Duskywing - Hodges#3946 active?
Sleepy Duskywing - Hodges#3946: seasonal activity - April-May, early June (northern part of range, e.g., New York, Wisconsin), March-April (North Carolina), January-May (Florida, Texas).
What is the life cycle of a Sleepy Duskywing - Hodges#3946?
Larvae feed on oaks of dry habitats, including Scrub Oak, Quercus ilicifolia and Black Oak, Quercus velutina . Larvae live in nests of rolled oak leaves and overwinter there, pupate and emerge in spring. Males hilltop, or patrol hostplants to seek females. One flight per year.