Mottled Duskywing - Hodges#3954
Erynnis martialis
This record describes Erynnis martialis (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Males patrol hilltops for females (a common insect behavior)
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
Geographic Range
"Throughout the eastern U.S., reaching into Canada only in southwestern Quebec, southern Ontario, and southeastern Manitoba." (Butterflies of Canada)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Lilacs (Rhamnaceae: Ceanothus )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Erynnis martialis. 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 Mottled Duskywing - Hodges#3954 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Mottled Duskywing - Hodges#3954
What is Mottled Duskywing - Hodges#3954?
Mottled Duskywing - Hodges#3954 (Erynnis martialis) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Mottled Duskywing - Hodges#3954 found?
Range: Throughout the eastern U.S., reaching into Canada only in southwestern Quebec, southern Ontario, and southeastern Manitoba. (Butterflies of Canada)
What does Mottled Duskywing - Hodges#3954 eat?
The diet of the Mottled Duskywing - Hodges#3954 includes Lilacs (Rhamnaceae: Ceanothus ).