About Erynnis martialis (Scudder, 1869)
Erynnis martialis, commonly known as the mottled duskywing, is a species of butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae. Its distribution covers most of the eastern United States, as well as southern Ontario and southeastern Manitoba in Canada. In the US state of Connecticut, it is listed as a species of special concern and is believed to be extirpated. This butterfly has a wingspan measuring 25 to 29 millimeters. Up to two generations can occur between mid-May and late August each year. The larvae feed on wild lilacs, including New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) and redroot (Ceanothus herbaceus), both members of the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae. Adult mottled duskywings feed on nectar from the flowers of Bush houstonia, Gromwell, Verbena stricta, and other plants. The main threats to mottled duskywing populations are habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and invasive species control measures. Activities including urbanization, suburban sprawl, agriculture, and logging have destroyed large areas of the oak savanna habitats that this species relies on. Spraying of DDT and carbaryl to control populations of the invasive gypsy moth also represents a major threat to the survival of Erynnis martialis.
