The Wild Indigo Duskywing is found throughout much of the eastern United States, from New England south to northern Florida and from South Dakota south to Texas. Its wings are dark brown, with the upperside of the forewing appearing especially dark and almost oily near the base.

At the end of the forewing cell, there is a distinct light patch that can range from orangish brown to reddish brown. Several white spots are present, including a cluster of four translucent spots near the leading edge in the area just before the tip (the sub-apical region), two additional sub-apical spots near the middle, and a row of pale spots along the wing margin.

The hindwing features a faint bar at the end of the cell, a row of white marginal spots, and a row of pale submarginal spots.

 

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Wild Indigo Duskywing Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Pyrginae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 3/8 – 1 5/8 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Open woods and barrens for native hosts. Highways, railroad beds, and upland fields

 

🪴 Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis)

• Cream Wild Indigo (Baptisia bracteata)

• False Lupine (Thermopsis villosa)

• Hairy Bush Pea (Desmodium sessilifolium)

• Lupine (Lupinus perennis)

• White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba)

• Yellow Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctoria)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Wild Indigo Duskywings feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

• Blackberry (Rubus spp.)

• Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

• Dogbane (Apocynum spp.)

• Fleabane (Erigeron spp.)

• Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)

• Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.)

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

• Thistles (Cirsium spp.)