Persius Duskywing
(Gesta persius – formerly Erynnis persius)
Spread-wing Skippers
Appearance: Above, male dark blackish-brown with soft mottled look and a scattering of dark gray scales on forewing with a cluster of tiny glassy white spots near forewing tip. Female above lighter and stronger pattern. Hindwing is largely unmarked with a row of light spots near trailing edge of wing. Hindwing fringes are dark.
Wingspan: Small; 1 1/8 to 1 5/8 inches.
Habitat: Open wooded areas, mountain meadows, streamsides, and along roads and trails; foothills, montane, low alpine.
Flight Times: May to early August; one brood. Caterpillar overwinters.
Larval Foodplant: Golden banner, lupines and other legumes.
Did You Know…
The common name of the ‘skippers’ group probably refers to the bounding or skipping and erratic flight style often close to the ground. Skippers are most likely more closely related to moths than true butterflies as the pupal stages are protected within silken cocoons rather than the exposed and unprotected chrysalis of most butterflies.
