Erynnis baptisiae
Encyclopedia
The Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae) is a butterfly
of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from southern New England
and southern Ontario
west to central Nebraska
, south to Georgia
, the Gulf Coast, and south-central Texas
.
The species is rapidly expanding its range and abundance by colonizing plantings of crown vetch along roadways and railroad beds.
Erynnis lucilius
, Erynnis baptisiae and Erynnis persius
belong to the "Persius species complex", a confusing group of very similar species.
The wingspan
is 35–41 mm. Adults are on wing from late April to early June and again from July to August. There are two generations per year.
The larvae mainly feed on Baptisia tinctoria
, but have also been recorded on Baptisia australis, Lupinus perennis
, Thermopsis villosa
and Coronilla varia. Adults feed on nectar from flowers of blackberry, white sweet clover, dogbane, sunflower, crimson clover and probably others.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from southern New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
and southern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
west to central Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, south to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, the Gulf Coast, and south-central Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
The species is rapidly expanding its range and abundance by colonizing plantings of crown vetch along roadways and railroad beds.
Erynnis lucilius
Erynnis lucilius
Columbine Duskywing is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from southern Quebec to Manitoba and south to northeastern USA....
, Erynnis baptisiae and Erynnis persius
Erynnis persius
The Persius Duskywing is a species of Hesperiidae that occurs in North America. It is a threatened species in Michigan and is protected by the law.-Description:...
belong to the "Persius species complex", a confusing group of very similar species.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 35–41 mm. Adults are on wing from late April to early June and again from July to August. There are two generations per year.
The larvae mainly feed on Baptisia tinctoria
Baptisia tinctoria
Baptisia tinctoria is a herbaceous perennial plant in the family Fabaceae. It is native to eastern North America.-Distribution:...
, but have also been recorded on Baptisia australis, Lupinus perennis
Lupinus perennis
Lupinus perennis is a medicinal plant in the Fabaceae family...
, Thermopsis villosa
Thermopsis villosa
Thermopsis villosa is an herbaceous plant in the legume family. Its native range is in North America, in the southern Appalachian mountains. It is found elsewhere as an escape from cultivation....
and Coronilla varia. Adults feed on nectar from flowers of blackberry, white sweet clover, dogbane, sunflower, crimson clover and probably others.