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| Erynnis propertius | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Hesperiidae |
| Genus: | Erynnis |
| Species: | E. propertius
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| Binomial name | |
| Erynnis propertius (Scudder & Burgess, 1870)
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| Synonyms | |
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Erynnis propertius, commonly known as Propertius duskywing, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. Propertius duskywings are members of the Pyrginae subfamily.[1] It is found in along the west coast of North America from southern British Columbia south along the Pacific Slope to Baja California Norte. It is one of the most commonly seen skippers in California.[2]
The species was formally described and named by entomologists Samuel Hubbard Scudder and Edward Burgess in 1870.[3] E. propertius was occasionally recorded under different names that are now considered synonymous. These include: Nisoniades propertius, Nisoniades tibullus, and Thanaos propertius.[3]
Larvae E. propertius feed on oaks, particularly Garry oak (Quercus garryana) at the northern edge of the range. Adults E. propertius drink nectar from wildflowers and sometimes feed on damp soil for minerals.[4]
E. propertius is known for its close association with oak woodland habitats and localized populations with fragmented oak ecosystems.[4]
Physical description
[edit]E. propertius are physically characterized as small sized skipper butterfly that has stout bodies, relatively small wings, and hooked antenna tips.[5] E. propertius has rapid, darting flight and mottled brown wing coloration that provides camouflage against bark and leaf litter in oak woodland habitats.[4][1] The wingspan is 35–45 mm.
Adult E. propertius are dark brown- grayish with some pale spots on the forewings and more uniformly dusky hindwings.[5] Females are typically slightly larger and paler than males.[1]
E. propertius share similar appearance with duskywing Erynnis trustis and Erynnis funeralis with all three species having dark color dorsal wings. E. propertius can be differentiated from E. trustis and E. funeralis by their grizzled appearance, the presence of two subapical spots on the ventral hindwing, and lack of white hindwing fringe.[5]
Larvae E. propertius vary by instar. At first instar, caterpillars are typically pale cream or greenish with dark head capsules, while later instars become more green or brown.[4]
Geographic range
[edit]The distribution of E. propertius aligned with its host, Garry oak, primarily in southwestern British Columbia, Canada; the southern and northern Puget Sound and the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains in Washington; western Oregon; and northwestern California.[6] In Washington, E. propertius exists only in small, isolated populations. It has also been observed in Mason County, San Juan County, Scamaria County, and Thurston County.[6]
E. propertius is frequently found in oak-dominated habitats, such as open woodlands, forest edges, and savanna habitats that contain Garry oak. It is closely associated with Quercus garryana ecosystems in British Colombia, which are naturally fragmented and have limited distribution.[4] The scattered presence of these habitats has resulted in limited local population structure and interpopulation dispersal. [4]
Habitat
[edit]E. propertius are common in their habitat of open oak woodlands and forest openings, but are absent in the deserts or the hot central valleys.[4] E. propertius is an obligate host of the Garry oak (Quercus garryana), and its larvae feed on the oaks leaves. The primary nectar source for E. propertius is the common camas (Camassia quamash).[4]
E. propertius inhabits low-elevation (up to 2000 feet) open-canopied oak woodlands and savannas.[4] In western Washington, oak forests are sparse and are declining. Research is needed to determine the specific requirements of the garry oak understory environment for overwintering and pupal development of this species.[7] The leaf litter layer is crucial for protecting the larvae during hibernation.
Life cycle
[edit]E. propertius go through one life cycle per year. Unlike some other butterfly species that migrate, E. propertius usually stay within a hundred meters of their birthplace. These butterflies stay in the same site all year, whether they are eggs, larvae, pupae, or adult butterflies.[8]
Larvae overwinters as a sixth instar caterpillar.[9] Larvae feed on the leaves of Garry oaks and overwinter by hibernating in an oak leaf nest, then pupate in the spring.[1] Adult E. propertius typically emerge from the pupae during April and May. The males come out first, then the females follow. Late-season individuals are primarily female.[8]
Mating and reproduction
[edit]Male E. propertius perch on low-lying plants to find mates, then quickly fly out to observe passing butterflies. Once a male detects female butterflies, it will begin courtship behavior. If a male spots another male, it will engage in territorial defense behavior.[1][8]
Female E. propertius fly slowly and hover above the host plant to find a place to lay their eggs. They then curve their abdomen to glue a single egg onto the leaf.[4] This method of laying solitary eggs is an evolutionary strategy designed to maximize the survival rate of the caterpillars.
E. propertius larvae conceal themselves in silken nests and primarily forage at night. Its larvae build large cocoons in folded oak leaves, which fall to the ground during winter, and the larvae pupate in early spring.
Social behaviors
[edit]Erynnis propertius is a highly solitary species.[4] E. propertius larvae live alone in silken nests to forage and evade predators, as there is no cooperative feeding.[1]
Adults are also primarily solitary.[4] While adults may gather at shared nectar sources, they do not form a long-term social group. During mating periods, males typically perch on low vegetation while waiting for females to pass by.[1] When another male enters the area, territorial interactions such as short-distance chases and upward spiraling flight may occur. These behaviors are seen as mate competition and territorial defense.[1]
Threats and conservation
[edit]Erynnis propertius is considered relatively stable across most of its range. However, it remains vulnerable to habitat loss as it strongly depend on oak forest and savanna ecosystems. Climate change may also affect the long-term distribution of E. propertius.[4] While studies have shown that larval development and host plant growth are not well-matched at the northern edge of its range, its northward expansion is limited by the lack of suitable oak host plants outside its existing range.[9] This may reduce the species’ ability to adapt to changes in its range due to rising temperatures. One major conservation challenge is the destruction of oak forest and savanna habitats by invasive species. Non-native species such as shrubs and grasses compete for resources and the invasion of native trees such as Douglas fir reduce the open woodland.[7] Habitat restoration action include using herbicides, mechanically restore native prairie, removing invasive trees, and seeding native oak woodland.[7][10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Shepard, Jon; Guppy, Crispin (2007). Butterflies of British Columbia. University of British Columbia Press. ISBN 978-0-7748-5623-2.
- ^ Will, Kip; Gross, Joyce; Rubinoff, Daniel; Powell, Jerry A. (2020). Field Guide to California Insects. Oakland, California: University of California Press. p. 402. ISBN 9780520288744.
- ^ a b Scudder, Samuel H. (1871). A Systematic Revision of Some of the American Butterflies. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 978-1120132543.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Prior, Kirsten M.; Dzurisin, Jason D.K.; Pelini, Shannon L.; Hellmann, Jessica J. (2009). "Biology of larvae and adults of Erynnis propertiusat the northern edge of its range". The Canadian Entomologist. 141 (2): 161–171. doi:10.4039/n08-019. ISSN 0008-347X.
- ^ a b c Orsak, Larry J. (1977). The butterflies of Orange County, California. Research series - Museum of Systematic Biology ; no. 4. Irvine: Center for Pathobiology, University of California, Irvine. ISBN 978-0-9601418-1-4.
- ^ a b Dunn, P. (1997). Changes in the south Puget Sound prairie landscape (P. Dunn and K. Ewing eds. ed.). The Nature Conservancy. p. 289.
- ^ a b c Schultz, Cheryl B.; Henry, Erica; Carleton, Alexa; Hicks, Tyler; Thomas, Rhiannon; Potter, Ann; Collins, Michele; Linders, Mary; Fimbel, Cheryl; Black, Scott; Anderson, Hannah E.; Diehl, Grace; Hamman, Sarah; Gilbert, Rod; Foster, Jeff (2011). "Conservation of Prairie-Oak Butterflies in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia". Northwest Science. 85 (2): 361–388. doi:10.3955/046.085.0221. ISSN 0029-344X.
- ^ a b c James, David; Nunnallee, David (2011). Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies. Oregon State University Press. ISBN 978-0-87071-648-5.
- ^ a b Pelini, Shannon L.; Dzurisin, Jason D. K.; Prior, Kirsten M.; Williams, Caroline M.; Marsico, Travis D.; Sinclair, Brent J.; Hellmann, Jessica J. (2009). "Translocation experiments with butterflies reveal limits to enhancement of poleward populations under climate change". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 106 (27): 11160–11165. doi:10.1073/pnas.0900284106. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 2708697.
- ^ Beyer, Loni J.; Schultz, Cheryl B. (2010). "Oviposition selection by a rare grass skipper Polites mardon in montane habitats: Advancing ecological understanding to develop conservation strategies". Biological Conservation. 143 (4): 862–872. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2009.12.031. ISSN 0006-3207.
External links
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