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PYRGINAE 7

 Erynnis
The genus Erynnis is probably the most difficult group of butterflies and skippers in North America and many of the species are nearly impossible to separate from each other on superficial appearance alone. Accurate identifications involve dissection of the male genitalia.

 

 Erynnis icelus Dreamy Duskywing

The palpi project further forward than in other species of Erynnis; forewing above lacks transparent spots.

 

 Erynnis brizo Sleepy Duskywing

Forewing bands distinct and complete and color of forewing a richer gray than in other species of Erynnis.

 

 Erynnis juvenalis Juvenal's Duskywing

Male forewing with scattered long white hairs (you'll need a magnifying glass); primarily an eastern species

 

 Erynnis telemachus Rocky Mountain Duskywing

Very similar to juvenalis, but primarily western; in overlapping regions of the U.S. the fringe is brown, not white; can be definitely separated from juvenalis only by male genitalia.

 

 Erynnis propertius Propertius Duskywing

Very similar to juvenalis and telemachus, but it is the only species in its Pacific Coast range with a brown hindwing fringe.

 

 Erynnis meridianus Meridian Duskywing

Forewing pattern very obscure; hindwing fringe is brown with pale tipped scales.

 

 Erynnis scudderi Scudder's Duskywing

Limited in range to southeastern Arizona and western Texas; male forewing with thick coat of long brown hairs; can be acurately separated from juvenalis and pacuvius only by dissection of the male genitalia.

 

 Erynnis horatius Horace's Duskywing

Forewing lacks white hairs as in telemachus and meridianus; dark pattern of forewing very obscure.

 

 Erynnis tristis Mournful Duskywing

Hindwing with prominent white fringe; forewing not as long and triangular as in funeralis.

 

 Erynnis martialis Mottled Duskwing

All wings above and below more strongly mottled than in other species of Erynnis.

 

 Erynnis zarucco Zarucco Duskywing

Forewing long and pointed with a brown patch at the end of the cell; hindwing without a white fringe; eastern United States.

 

 Erynnis pacuvius Pacuvius Duskywing

Because of its variability, pacuvius is a very difficult species to separate from other species in Erynnis; dissection of the male genitalia is necessary in most cases.

 

 Erynnis funeralis Funereal Duskywing

Forewing narrow and pointed, hindwing triangular; hindwing with white fringe; forewing with a brown patch at the apex of the cell.

 persius species group
Members of the persius group (lucilius, baptisae, afranius, and persius) can only be separated accurately from the other members of the group by dissection of the male genitalia.

 

 Erynnis lucilius Columbine Duskywing

Forewing with a distinctive orange-brown patch at the end of the cell; primarily northeastern United States and eastern Canada; a single strong row of white spots along the outer margin of the hindwing below.

 

 Erynnis baptisiae Wild Indigo Duskywing

Forewing with a distinctive orange-brown patch at the end of the cell; spots of hindwing below along the outer margin not as in lucilius.

 

 Erynnis afranius Afranius Duskwing

Forewing without a light gray patch at the end of the cell; male hindwing fringes pale tipped.

 

 Erynnis persius Persius Duskywing

Forewing with a light gray patch at the end of the cell; male hindwing fringes brown.