Dreamy Duskywing (Erynnis icelus)

Description: A medium sized dark brown skipper, it has an indistinct purplish-grey band on the forewing upper side when fresh. Older specimens are rather plain brown. Can be told from other small brown skippers by its habit of sitting with its wings spread flat to the ground. Dreamy Duskywing is similar to, but much smaller than, both Juvenal’s Duskywing and Northern Cloudywing, and lacks distinct white spots on the forewing above. Wingspan: 23 to 30 mm.

Maritime Distribution: Widespread throughout the Maritimes. For Atlas results click here.

Provincial Ranks: NB: S5. NS: S5. PEI: S5.

Flight Period: Mid May to mid July.

Host Plant: Willows (Salix spp.), birches (Betula spp.) and poplars (Populus spp.).

Notes: The Dreamy Duskywing is most often seen perched on open ground, and can be very common along trails and wood roads where it drinks from damp soil and visits flowers. It is one of the earliest skippers to emerge in the spring and has a very long flight period.
Occasionally, fresh appearing specimens are seen in late July and early August indicating either a prolonged emergence period or a small second generation.