Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae)
Duke Gardens, Durham Co., NC
10 Aug 2008
I watched this female Wild Indigo lay the egg in the photo below on Baptisia.
Duke Gardens, Durham Co., NC
10 Aug 2008
Laid by the female in the photo above.
This duskywing can be tricky to identify. Note that the inner 2/3 of the wings are darker than the outer 1/3. Also, it's a bit smaller than the usually more common Juvenal's and Horace's Duskywings. Host plants in NC include species of Baptisia (hence the scientific name) and Crown-Vetch (Coronilla varia). The latter is an exotic invasive frequently planted along roadsides for erosion control and has undoubtedly led to the spread of this lep.
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Female Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae) Duke Gardens, Durham Co., NC 10 Aug 2008 I watched this female Wild Indigo lay the egg in the photo below on Baptisia. |
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Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae) egg Duke Gardens, Durham Co., NC 10 Aug 2008 Laid by the female in the photo above. |
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| Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC 20 Aug 2006 |
same individual taking flight! |
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| Beech Mtn., Watauga Co., NC 21 July2006 |
same individual |
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| Haywood Co., NC 13 May 2005 |
Durham Co., NC 1 May 2005 |
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| Duke Gardens Durham Co., NC 16 Aug 2003 |
Duke Gardens Durham Co., NC 16 Aug 2003 |
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| Haywood Co., NC 15 Apr 2006 |
Haywood Co., NC 15 Apr 2006 |
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| Duke Gardens Durham Co., NC 16 Aug 2003 |
Haywood Co., NC 13 May 2005 |
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| Durham Co., NC 20 Aug 2005 |
Durham Co., NC 24 Jul 2005 |
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Yellow Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctoria) is one of the caterpillar host plants for Wild Indigo Duskywings. Person Co., NC 6/13/2006 |
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Crown Vetch (Coronilla varia) is another caterpillar host plant for Wild Indigo Duskywings. The widespread planting of the plant for erosion control along roads has undoubtedly led to the increase of Wild Indigo Duskywings in both range and abundance. Watauga Co., NC 7/21/2006 |
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Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae) eggs Duke Gardens, Durham Co., NC 10 Aug 2008 Three Wild Indigo Duskywing eggs of different ages are visible in this photo on Baptisia. |
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| Duke Gardens, Durham Co., NC 10 Aug 2008 |
Duke Gardens, Durham Co., NC 10 Aug 2008 |
Created on ... November 30, 2003 | Updated on ... March 5, 2007 | jspippen@duke.edu