Horace's Duskywing - Erynnis horatius

Habitat

Horace's duskywing is found in sunny spots at the edges of woodlands, clearings, oak scrub, and roadsides.

Diet

The Horace's duskywing caterpillar eats new leaves of red and white oak trees including northern red oak, scrub oak, water oak, and willow oak. The adult prefers flowering plants that are 4.5 feet tall including goldenrod, dogbane, buttonbush, and peppermint.

Life Cycle

The male Horace's duskywing perches on a twig about a foot above the ground and waits for a female. The female lays one egg at a time on the new leaves of host plants. The female Horace's duskywing produces two or three broods a year. The caterpillars in the last brood overwinter. The caterpillar is hairy with a light green body with white spots. It has a red, orange, or yellow head.