North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Arkansas

Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)
JPG -- species photo


Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis [Fabricius])

Wing span: 1 1/4 - 1 15/16 inches (3.2 - 4.9 cm).

Identification: Upperside of male is brown with clear spots, indistinct dark markings, and scattered white hairs; female has larger markings and spots. Underside of hindwing has 2 round pale 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 wait for females, males perch in forest clearings or edges on bare twigs about 3-12 feet above the ground; they will often patrol from these perches. Females lay eggs singly on young leaves and seedlings of the host plants. Caterpillars feed on leaves and rest in nests of rolled or tied leaves; fully-grown caterpillars hibernate.

Flight: One brood from April-June, emerging as early as late January in peninsular Florida.

Caterpillar hosts: Tree and shrub oaks (Quercus species).

Adult food: Nectar from flowers of winter cress, dandelion, wild plum, wisteria, blueberry, Carolina vetch, redbud, and lilac.

Habitat: Oak woods or scrub and associated edges or fields.

Range: Nova Scotia and central New England west through southern Manitoba to the Dakotas and northeastern Wyoming; south through most of the eastern United States to Florida, the Gulf states, and Texas. White-fringed populations occur in west Texas, New Mexico, and central Arizona south to central Mexico.

Conservation: Not usually required.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.

References:

Opler, P. A. and G. O. Krizek. 1984. Butterflies east of the Great Plains. Johns 
     Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 294 pages, 54 color plates.

Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern butterflies. Peterson 
     field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston. 396 pages, 48 color plates.

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:

Opler, P.A. 1998. A field guide to eastern butterflies, revised format.
     Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.
Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)
distribution map
map legend

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