Endangered Resources Program Species Information
Mottled Dusky Wing (Erynnis martialis)
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Overview
Species Overview
Mottled dusky wing ( Erynnis martialis ), a State Special Concern butterfly. This skipper is found in scrub forest, pine/oak barrens and oak savanna. It is a bivoltine species, the spring flight occurs from mid May to mid-June and the summer flight from mid July to mid August. Larvae feed only on members of the plant genus Ceanothus.
Status and NHI Documented Occurrences in Wisconsin
The table below provides information about the protected status (State and Federal Status) and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Mottled Dusky Wing (Erynnis martialis). See the Working List Key for more information about the abbreviations used. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. For invertebrates, dots depict locations from the "Invertebrate Atlas," a database with occurrences of rare and common aquatic and select terrestrial invertebrate species found in Wisconsin and adjacent areas. While the invertebrate atlas is a quality assured database, not all records have been verified. The map is provided as a general reference of where this species has been found to date and is not meant as a range map.
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Detailed Information
Identification: The wings are dark brown above with a purplish sheen, prominently mottled with tan patches and marked with strongly contrasting black spots. Upperside: The brown background and irregular dark bands on the wing uppersides contribute to the mottled appearance. The habit of resting on the ground with wings held below horizontal helps separate the Erynnis skippers from other dark butterflies. Fresh individuals of the mottled duskywing are more easily distinguishable from the other Erynnis spp. which become more mottled in appearance when aged and worn. Wingspan: 28-32mm. Length of forewing: 14-17mm. Larvae are stout, light green with a dark head (Layberry et al. 1998).
Similar Species: Of the eight species of duskywings in Wisconsin, the Persius, Wild Indigo, and Columbine Duskywings are closely similar and the most difficult to distinguish from each other. Sleepy and Dreamy duskywings have no white spots and a prominent chain-like postmedian band on the forewing. Juvenal’s duskywing is significantly larger ( minimum wingspan of 37 mm, length of forewing 18 mm). Juvenal’s is distinguished by the two subapical light spots that are usually present on the underside of the hindwing.
Habitat: Scrub forest, pine/oak barrens and oak savanna.
Nectar Source: Asters, puccoon (Lithospermum spp.), downy phlox (Phlox pilosa), blazingstar (Liatris spp.), rock cress (Arabis lyrata), and bluets (Houstonia spp.) have been reported in Wisconsin (Borth 1994).
Host Plant: New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus), and redroot (Ceanothus herbaceus).
Associated Species: Other Erynnis species.
State Distribution: Brown, Burnett, Dane, Douglas, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, Sauk, Washburn, and Waukesha Counties. Locally common in Burnett and Douglas Counties, not often seen in numbers in other areas.
Global Distribution: Southern Ontario and Manitoba and one site in Quebec. Southern New England south and west to Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, eastern Wyoming, and the Great Lakes States.
Threats: Habitat loss due to woody species and forest encroachment. Overwintering immatures are exposed and vulnerable to being killed by fire.
Phenology: The spring flight occurs from mid May to mid-June and the summer flight from mid July to mid August.
Life History: Bivoltine. Larvae form a nest of leaves above the ground from which they go out to feed. Second brood mature larvae hibernate and pupation occurs above the ground (Borth 1994). A remnant-dependent species (Panzer et al. 1995).
Survey Guidance: Males perch and patrol in search of females (Opler et al. 1995). Under sunny conditions, males may be found in open areas. When cloudy, they perch on oaks and shrubs in wooded habitat (Borth 1997). Often found on damp spots on dirt roads and sand trails. New county records should be documented with voucher specimens.
Inventory, Monitoring and Research Needs: Locate additional populations and monitor known localities, particularly in sites managed with fire.
Management Guidance: Immature stages of the species are on the plant throughout the year. Sites managed with fire should be divided into several burn units leaving the majority of the site unburned in a given season. Avoid burning adjacent units the following season.
Information originally presented as part of the Online Field Guide to Rare Lepidoptera: Bogs and Barrens.
Photos
No additional photos are available for Mottled Dusky Wing at this time.
Related Links
Links to Additional Mottled Dusky Wing Information
- WisconsinButterflies.org Species Profile [Exit DNR]
- Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA) [Exit DNR]
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