Erynnis brizo, the sleepy duskywing or banded oak duskywing, is a species of Hesperiidae butterfly that occurs throughout North America and is commonly confused with E. juvenalis and E. lucilius.[3] The species is listed as threatened in Connecticut and Maine.[4]

Erynnis brizo

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Erynnis
Species:
E. brizo
Binomial name
Erynnis brizo

Description

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The upper forewing is blackish brown with continuous bluish-brown spots. The hindwing is almost completely brown with lighter brown spots. The caterpillar of this species is small and gray green with purplish tips. There is a faint lateral white stripe. Unlike most caterpillars Hesperiidae have distinct heads and the E. brizo's head is brown with an orange spot.[5]

Habitat

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This small Erynnis stays in oak-pine barrens and cut-over forest. It can be seen near forest edges including near roads, train tracks and towns.

Food plants

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The larvae consume Scrub oak (Quercus ilicifolia) and other shrubby oaks. The adults consume Nectar from flowers of heaths (Ericaceae) including wild azalea and blueberry; also blackberry and dandelion.[6]

 
Mating

References

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  1. ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0 Erynnis brizo Sleepy Duskywing". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Erynnis brizo Boisduval & Le Conte 1832 - Encyclopedia of Life". Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  3. ^ "Species Erynnis brizo - Sleepy Duskywing - BugGuide". Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  4. ^ "Connecticut's Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species 2015". State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Bureau of Natural Resources. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  5. ^ Nielsen, Mogens C. (1999). "Skippers". Michigan Butterflies & Skippers A Field Guide and Reference (1st ed.). Michigan State University Extension. pp. 184–185. ISBN 1-56525-012-5.
  6. ^ "Sleepy Duskywing Erynnis brizo (Boisduval & Leconte, [1837]) | Butterflies and Moths of North America".