Wild Florida Photo - Erynnis horatius

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Erynnis horatius

HORACE'S DUSKY WING

Florida native

 

Horace's dusky wings are drab brown butterflies found in scrubs, sandhills, flatwoods, along the margins of hammocks and in shrubby disturbed areas throughout Florida. Most populous in the southeastern United States, the range extends west to Utah and Arizona, through the midwest as far as South Dakota and Minnesota and into New England, excluding Vermont and Maine.
WIngspans range from 3.4 to 4.9 cm (1-1/3 to 1-15/16 in.). Both sexes have transparent spots on the forewings. Males have a coastal fold on the forewing containing yellow scent scales. Females have scent scales on the seventh abdominal segment. Females have more of a wing pattern, showing white and black areas on teh brown wings, both upperside and underside. Males show a very faint pattern mostly on the upperside of the forewings.
Oak shrubs and trees are larval host plants. Adult butterflies feed on various plants up to about 1.37 m (4-1/2 ft.) high. The butterfly pictured here is feeding on the flowers of turkey tangle fogfruit (Phyla nodiflora).
At least seven of the 25 Erynnis species occur in Florida.

 
Erynnis horatius is a member of the Hesperiidae - Skippers family.
 

Florida Butterfly Gardening

  Marc C. Minno, Maria Minno, Diane Pierce (Illustrator)
 Although the title may lead you to believe that this is just a book about gardening for butterflies, it is in fact an excellent guide to butterflies in Florida, although the large format precludes its use in the field in most cases.

Purchases made by clicking the image link below help support this website
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Both a butterfly identification guide and an illustrated manual for butterfly gardening in Florida, this is the first to cover adult, larval, & pupal stages for over 60 butterfly & moth species with information on the plants utilized by each species. Includes over 400 color photographs, a butterfly checklist, & inquiry-based science activities for teachers.








For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Butterflies & Moths of North America page fro this species

Date record last modified:
Jun 22, 2012