Juvenal’s Duskywing
Erynnis juvenalis

Summary
This spread-wing skipper closely resembles its relative, Horace’s duskywing, but can be seen only in the springtime. Another tell is the pair of small pale spots on the underside of the hindwing. Males sport folds on their forewings that emit alluring pheromones, attracting females. The caterpillars eat oak leaves, while adults nectar on a wide variety of spring-blooming trees and shrubs.
More Details
FAMILY
Hesperiidae (Skippers)
IDENTIFICATION
Average Wingspan: 1.25- 1.75 inches. Dorsal forewing with a row of three or four hyaline white spots. Ventral side with two small white spots near leading edge of hindwing.
HABITAT
Open oak forests, forest edges, trails, and roadsides.
LIFE CYCLE
One brood. Overwinters as fully grown larva. Males perch on low tree limbs and bare twigs awaiting females.
HOST PLANTS
Oaks (Quercus)
Ecosystem Connections
The caterpillars are herbivores that graze on leaves, and adults serve a role in pollination. All life stages provide food for predators. Because butterflies are so sensitive to toxins and disturbances in the environment, they are good indicators of the overall health of ecosystems.