Description
The Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo) is a small, dark brown butterfly with subtle white spots on its forewings and a slightly frosted appearance, typically found in dry, open woodlands, scrubby areas, and along forest edges across eastern and central North America. I haven’t seen this species in Minnesota so the images above are from Colorado.
Range
Largely confined to oak barrens habitats along the St. Croix and then along the lower Mississippi past the Twin Cities.
Similar Species
Dreamy Duskywing males have a plume of hair on the hindwing that is lacking in Sleepy. Sleepy also flies a bit earlier.But these two are very similar.
Host Plants
The larvae of the Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo) primarily feed on oak species. Here are the main larval host plants: White Oak (Quercus alba), Black Oak (Quercus velutina)
Flight
Overwinters in chrysalis, and can emerge as early as March during a warm spring and can fly until mid-May.