# Duskywings (*Erynnis*) Duskywings are small butterflies with dark, beautiful wings. They love to flutter around in sunny spots, making them a delightful sight in nature! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Duskywings](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Erynnis_tages2.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erynnis_tages2.jpg) ## Appearance The Duskywings are small, robust butterflies with mottled brown, grey, or black wings, often resembling a moth. Their heads are broad with short, club-tipped antennae that have a distinctive hook. They often blend in perfectly with tree bark or dead leaves. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Hesperiidae - **Genus:** Erynnis ## Interesting facts - Duskywing caterpillars are called 'leaf rollers' because they literally stitch leaves into homes! - Some Duskywing species can have two or even three generations born in a single year! - Their robust bodies and drab colors make them look like moths, but they are true butterflies! - Unlike most butterflies, Duskywings have tiny hooks on their antennae tips! ## Special abilities - **Nature's Cloak:** Duskywings have drab, mottled wings that help them disappear against bark or dry leaves, making them hard to spot. - **Zap Flight:** Duskywings can fly incredibly fast in quick, darting movements to escape predators or move between flowers. - **Leaf-Roll Homebuilder:** Duskywing caterpillars can roll up a leaf and silk it into a cozy, protective shelter where they live and eat. - **Nectar Siphon:** Duskywings possess a long, coiled proboscis that helps them sip sweet nectar deep inside many different flowers. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-40 mm - **Size:** 10-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Caterpillars munch on leaves for growth, while adult Duskywings sip sugary flower nectar for energy. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat specific host plant leaves; adults drink flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Wild Indigo, Lupine, Clover, Tick-trefoil, Flower Nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Wild Lupine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wild-lupine) (*Lupinus perennis*) — Crucial host plant for several Duskywing larvae. - **Depends on:** Blue Wild Indigo (*Baptisia australis*) — A primary food source for many Duskywing caterpillars. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Jays and other birds actively hunt adult Duskywings. - **Eaten by:** [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Argiope aurantia*) — Adult Duskywings can sometimes be trapped in their webs. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch butterflies from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Duskywings? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Duskywings's wingspan? 25-40 mm ### How big is Duskywings? 10-20 mm ### How long does Duskywings live? 7-14 days ### How fast can Duskywings fly? 20 km/h ### What does Duskywings eat? Caterpillars munch on leaves for growth, while adult Duskywings sip sugary flower nectar for energy. ### Where is Duskywings usually found? Grasslands ### How does Duskywings hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Hyner View State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hyner-view-state-park) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Duskywings: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/duskywings)