Erynnis lucilius – Columbine Duskywing

Caterpillar foods: Columbine

The only way to tell adult Columbine Duskywings from Wild Indigo Duskywings is to observe their host plant.  Their wing markings are indistinguishable.

5/26/2018  I found two Duskywings circling each other, and one kept landing on this Wild Columbine plant.

 

5/26/2018  I checked the underside of the leaves, and found several eggs.

 

5/28/2018  Egg

 

5/28/2018  By the time I collected the plant, two days later, one egg had hatched.

 

5/28/2018  Remains of the eggshell

 

5/31/2018  caterpillar leaf shelter

 

 

5/31/2018  caterpillar inside leaf shelter

 

 

6/12/2018

 

 

6/16/2018

 

 

6/21/2018  Caterpillar in a silken nest – preparing to pupate

 

 

7/8/2018  Pupa

 

 

7/10/2018  Newly emerged adult

 

 

7/10/2018  Newly emerged adult

 

 

7/10/2018  Newly emerged adult

 

7/16/2018  Another newly emerged adult