Guide to Vineyard duskwyings
We've prepared an identification guide for another challenging group of Vineyard butterflies: the duskywings of the genus Erynnis. Our five species are superficially similar but can be distinguished by details of their appearance, their flight periods, and their habitat and larval host plant associations.
Spring is the peak season for duskywings, with the first members of this genus on the wing in mid-April. Three of our species have just one flight period per year, in spring; the other two also fly in spring but add a second flight period later in the summer. Three of our species are quite common; two are quite rare. Barrens habitat and oak woodland are the best habitats for looking for duskywings. All in all, this is a group of butterflies that's worth your attention! If you start studying duskywings, expect a measure of frustration to start with. But you can safely assume that virtually all the duskywings you see will be one of our three more common species. If you take that as your starting point, consider date and host plant associations, and use the tips provided in the guide, you will quickly grow comfortable with this genus.
You can find the new ID guide at this URL: https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/15057 Or you can navigate to this or our other ID guides by using the search window in the "Guides" section, found under the "More" menu option in the menu bar at the top of your iNaturalist. We look forward to seeing your duskywing observations a bit later in the season!
--Matt Pelikan
