Art Shapiro's Butterfly Site - Erynnis

Erynnis brizo lacustra

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:09:22 +0000

A narrow endemic in our fauna, restricted to serpentine soils in both the Coast Range and Sierra Nevada foothills, where its only known host plant in the North State, Leather Oak (Serpentine Scrub Oak), Quercus durata, occurs. Its southernmost population in our area is at Meadowbrook, near Georgetown. Farther south in both ranges it is not confined to serpentine and seems to use several shrubby oaks as hosts, but never in our area.

There are breeding populations near Nevada City, Grass Valley, and Coloma, but this species occurs on our transect only as a very rare stray.

An avid puddler. Commoner in the North Coast Range than in the Sierra, where it is usually seen twisting into and among leather oak thickets - magically going into one, but coming out of another! Visits wild onion, yellow Composites, etc. One brood only, March-June.

Erynnis funeralis

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:09:21 +0000

This species ranges from the San Joaquin Valley to central Argentina and Chile. In most places its host plant is cultivated Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)! It is only an accidental or stray species in our area. It can be told from the Mournful Dusky-Wing, E. tristis - which is common and resident - by its rather long, narrow, pointed forewing, often with a coppery-reddish cast. The shape of the forewing makes the hindwing look very broad. Multiple broods.

Erynnis icelus

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:09:20 +0000

Uncommon and rather poorly-known in California, this is a species of cool, moist forest - often seen along muddy streamsides, sitting with wings fully expanded. It ranges from the upper foothills to mid-elevation (roughly 1500 to 6000' at the latitude of I-80). The only other small Dusky-Wing with a "chain-dotted" forewing pattern is the larger, serpentine-endemic Sleepy Dusky-Wing, E. brizo lacustra. Note the squarish, "cut-off" forewing shape of E. icelus!

One brood in late spring (April-June). Host plant willow (Salix), but life-history not well studied in California. This species extends all the way to the Atlantic Coast and may be a relict in our fauna. In the Bay Area it is recorded (oddly) only from Sonoma County.

Erynnis pacuvius

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:09:19 +0000

An uncommon species found in both the Coast Range and Sierra Nevada, mostly in chaparral and along roads in mesic forest where it often puddles. Confusingly similar to the Persius Duskywing but always single-brooded, and usually identifiable by habitat and plant association. It has a gloss or lustre usually missing in the "matte" persius and lacks a white dot at the end of the forewing cell above. In fact, it is very dark. Late spring-early summer; host plants various species of Ceanothus; the reasons for its scarcity are unknown.

Erynnis persius

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:09:18 +0000

Locally common in a wide variety of habitats from sea level (including the Central Valley) to 7000',but rarely seen on the East slope. Many of its colonies are transient, especially at low elevation where its hosts are often annuals.It often disappears from an area for years on end, then reappears suddenly. It has, however, been a long-term permanent resident at Lang Crossing. This is the only small Dusky-Wing with multiple broods--three at 5000'. This in itself is a valuable aid to identification.

Males are good puddlers and often fly in circles around patches of the host plant. They are avid visitors to Pink Dogbane and Vetch flowers and often visit others. They usually occur in the open, along streamsides, in grassland or rocky balds, but also along roads through mesic mid-elevation forest. There are differences in details of the wing pattern between the spring and later broods. The well-developed light spot on the forewing upperside at the end of the discal cell is a good way to tell this species from E. pacuvius.

The hostplants are all Fabaceae, including both annual and perennial species of the genus Lotus. Spanish Lotus, L. purshianus, is a frequent choice at low elevation. The introduced perennial, Bird's-Foot Trefoil (L. corniculatus) does not seem to be used.

Erynnis propertius

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:09:17 +0000

Our commonest and most widespread Erynnis, easily recognized in our area by its large size, brown hindwing fringe, and two light spots near the outer angle of the hindwing beneath. It occurs from sea level to 9000', though the individuals seen above 7000' seem to be hilltopping fly-ups and there is no evidence of breeding up there (in fact, there are often no hosts). An avid puddler, often in large numbers, it occurs in woodlands and forests but is very nearly gone from the Central Valley.

In theory this is a single-brooded species (February to July, depending on site), but at Gates Canyon it has repeatedly produced a partial second brood in mid-to-late summer. Second-brood individuals are subtly different in phenotype from firsts. The same is true of the related Eastern species E. horatius, which also produces one or more summer broods.

Larvae live in rolled-leaf nests on a variety of tree Oaks, both deciduous and evergreen. I have not found them using exotic species in cities or parks-at least not yet.

Adults visit many flowers, including Vetches, Blue Dicks, Phacelia, Fioddleneck, Yerba Santa, California Buckeye, Dogbane, Milkweed, Pussy Paws? you name it. Males perch and hilltop, but are not obligate hilltoppers.

Erynnis tristis

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:09:16 +0000

Common below 2000', including the Sacramento Valley; the only Erynnis routinely found in cities. A strong flier but not a very dedicated puddler, it is multiple-brooded, from March to October. This is the only common Dusky-Wing with a white fringe (compare E. funeralis).

Host plant oaks (Quercus), ovipositing on young, tender growth only and thus generally confined to Valley Oak (Q. lobata), which continues growing all summer, and cultivated Oaks receiving summer water, including Cork Oak (Q. suber), from the Mediterranean Region, which seems to be one of its favorites! Males hilltop in the foothills. Visits Tall Blue Verbena, Yuerba Santa, California Buckeye, etc. and a variety of garden flowers, especially Buddleia davidii.