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| Horace's Duskywing |
Latin
Name: Erynnis horatius |
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Genus: Erynnis Species: horatius |
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Comments: |
| This abundant skipper commonly wanders into disturbed sites near its habitat in search of nectar. It is often a common garden visitor. It holds its wings outstretched when feeding or at rest. Adults flutter about with quick, somewhat erratic flight usually low to the ground. Males perch on low vegetation and occasionally puddle at damp sand or gravel. The larvae construct individual shelters on the host by folding over leaves with silk. Once fully mature, the larvae from the late season generation overwinter among the leaf litter until the following spring. |
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Life
Cycle: |
Broods: |
multiple generations |
Egg: |
pale yellow green, laid singly on new growth of host |
Larva: |
pale green with tiny white spots and a reddish orange head |
Host Plants: |
various oaks including Live Oak, Turkey Oak, Water Oak and Myrtle Oak |
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Host
Plants: |
Host
Plants: |
various oaks including Live Oak, Turkey Oak, Water Oak and Myrtle Oak |
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Habitat: |
Habitat: |
oak woodlands, oak scrub, forest edges, woodland clearings, roadsides and utility easements |
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Wingspan: |
Inches: |
1.25 - 1.75 |
Centimeters: |
3.2 - 4.4 |
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Appearance: |
Sexes: |
similar, although female is lighter with more heavily patterned forewings and larger forewing spots |
Compare: |
Juvenal's Duskywing has two light spots along upper margin of ventral hindwing and gray scaling on dorsal forewing. |
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| Markings: |
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Above:
- dark brown overall with gray scaling usually lacking; forewing has cluster of small clear spots near wingtip and distinctive clear spot at end of forewing cell; female is lighter with more contrasting pattern; clear spots typically larger than in most other duskywings
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Below:
- brown with faint rows of light spots along outer edge of hindwing
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Abundance: |
occasional to common |
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Map Legend: Resident (green) | Stray
(Red) |
