Juvenal's Dusky Wing
(Erynnis juvenalis)

This large species of Dusky Wing is common in April and May. It is most often encountered along roadsides or on paths through wooded areas. The Kokosing Gap Trail is a likely place to encounter this butterfly. Males fly low to the ground as they patrol their territory. Note the white spots on the forewing of the butterfly pictured on the left. These help distinguish it from the smaller Sleepy Dusky Wing. The gray mottling is also pronounced in Juvenal's Dusky Wing. Juvenal's Dusky Wing can be distinguished from the similar Horace's Dusky Wing by the two white apical spots on the ventral hindwing (sometimes these are faint or missing making a positive identification difficult).

Adults visit a variety of spring flowering plants for nectar. They can also be found getting moisture and nutrients from damp soil and animal dung.

This pair was observed during their mating flight and photographed immediately after landing. Note the two distinguishing white spots on the ventral hindwing of the lower butterfly. After mating the female will probably lay eggs on the leaves of a white oak, which is reported to be the larval host plant in Ohio. Return to butterfly list