Hesperiidae : Pyrginae
Ephyriades brunnea (Herrich-Schäffer, 1865)
Florida Duskywing
Ephyriades brunnea (Herrich-Schäffer, 1865)
Florida Duskywing
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 38-48mm. One of several similar Ephyriades and Erynnis skippers, the closest being Erynnis zarucco males and Ephyriades zephodes females. Sexually dimorphic with males being darker and with a circle of small transparent dots on the forewing and a paler band on the posterior edge of both wings. Females are more patterned showing a purplish tinge and dark bands with larger transparent dots on the forewing. Erynnis zarucco males have just three white dots near the costa and more white scales on the forewing. Ephyriades zephodes females have the same pattern as E. brunnea but lack the purple tinge on the forewing.
Range: S Florida, Bahamas, Cuba and Jamaica plus also Dominica and Guadeloupe in the Lesser Antilles. This is an oddly disjunct distribution.
Status: Widespread and common especially near the coast.
Nectar Plants: Lantana, Bidens pilosa, Tournefortia hirsutissima, Alysicarpus vaginalis, Psychotria nervosa, Melochia nodiflora, Lippia alba.
Larval Foodplants: Plants in the genus Malpighia and Stigmaphyllon (Hernandez). Eggs are laid on the upper surface of the leaves or in the leaf axils.
Range: S Florida, Bahamas, Cuba and Jamaica plus also Dominica and Guadeloupe in the Lesser Antilles. This is an oddly disjunct distribution.
Status: Widespread and common especially near the coast.
Nectar Plants: Lantana, Bidens pilosa, Tournefortia hirsutissima, Alysicarpus vaginalis, Psychotria nervosa, Melochia nodiflora, Lippia alba.
Larval Foodplants: Plants in the genus Malpighia and Stigmaphyllon (Hernandez). Eggs are laid on the upper surface of the leaves or in the leaf axils.
Egg
Larva
Foodplant and Habitat
