Propertius Duskywing
Erynnis propertius (Scudder & Burgess, 1870)

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Diagnosis: A large dark brown skipper (wingspan: 30 to 38 mm), it is very similar in appearance to Juvenal's Duskywing (E. juvenalis), although fortunately for identification purposes their ranges are widely separated.

Range: It occurs on the west coast of North America from California to southern British Columbia, north to Mt. Currie on the mainland and Hornby Island, off the east coast of Vancouver Island.

Similar Species: The only other large western duskywing is the Pacuvius Duskywing (E. pacuvius), but this species has white-fringed hindwings. [compare images]

Early Stages: The larvae have not been described. Foodplants are oaks, Garry Oak (Quercus garryana) in Canada.

Propertius Duskywing (Erynnis propertius). Victoria, BC. J.B. Tatum

Abundance: This is the most common duskywing on the coast of southern British Columbia.

Flight Season: Although usually reported to have only one generation per year, in late April and May, there are a few records from late June and July from Vancouver Island that probably represent a partial second generation.

Habits: The adults are often seen nectaring and on mud, from sea-level up onto hillsides, in woodland clearings, trails, and in open meadows, always near oaks.

© 2002. This material is reproduced with permission from The Butterflies of Canada by Ross A. Layberry, Peter W. Hall, and J. Donald Lafontaine. University of Toronto Press; 1998. Specimen photos courtesy of John T. Fowler.

The Toronto Entomologists' Association thanks Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for providing the content and computer code for this web page.