Pacuvius Duskywing
(Gesta pacuvius – formerly Erynnis pacuvius)
Spread-wing Skippers
Appearance: Above, forewings dark with mosaic of brown, black, or gray and pale orange-brown patches. Upperside hindwings are unmarked brown with white fringes. Below, both wings are a plain brown with submarginal band of pale white spots. Light rings around abdomen.
Wingspan: Small; 1 1/8 to 1 1/2 inches.
Habitat: Mixed open woodlands and coniferous forests, streamsides; foothills, montane.
Flight Times: May to August; one brood. Caterpillar overwinters.
Larval Foodplant: Buckbrushes (Ceanothus species).
Did You Know…
Similar to Persius Duskywing which has a duskier gray look on the forewing, lacks the hindwing white fringe and uses legumes (Golden Banner locally) as its host plant.
