North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Colorado

Rocky Mountain Duskywing (Erynnis telemachus)
JPG -- species photo

Rocky Mountain Duskywing (Erynnis telemachus Burns)

Wing span: 1 3/8 - 1 3/4 inches (3.5 - 4.5 cm).

Identification: Fringes are brown. Upperside is brown; forewing has gray scales and distinct clear spots. Underside of hindwing has very small spots below the apex. Male has a costal fold containing yellow scent scales; female has a patch of scent scales on the 7th abdominal segment.

Life history: To seek females, males perch in gulches during the day. Females lay eggs singly on the bark and leaf buds of the host plant.

Flight: One brood from April-July.

Caterpillar hosts: Gambel oak (Quercus gambeli).

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Oak woodland and openings.

Range: Southern Wyoming, Utah, southeastern Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas.

Conservation: Not usually required.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.

References:


Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, 

     Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.



Stanford, R. E. and P. A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of western USA butterflies including 

     adjacent parts of Canada and Mexico. Denver and Fort Collins, CO. 



Tilden, J. W. 1986. A field guide to western butterflies. Houghton-Mifflin Co., 

     Boston, Mass. 370 pages, 23 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

State and Regional References:


Brown, F.M., Eff, J.D., and B. Rotger. 1957. Colorado Butterflies. Denver 

     Museum of Natural History, Denver.



Ferris, C.D. and F.M. Brown. 1980. Butterflies of the Rocky Mountain States. 

     University of Oklahoma Press. Norman.



Layberry, R.A., Hall, P.W. & Lafontaine, D.J., 1998.  The Butterflies of 

     Canada.  University of Toronto Press, Toronto, ON.  280 pp. 



Opler, Paul A. 1999. Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies, revised 

     edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.



Stanford, R.E. and P.A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western USA Butterflies. 

     Privately published, Denver, Colo.



Tilden, J.W. and A.C. Smith. 1986. A Field Guide to Western Butterflies. 

     Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.

Rocky Mountain Duskywing (Erynnis telemachus)
distribution map
map legend

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