Jul 2, 2010
Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.
--Nathaniel Hawthorne
Such was the case today with the Mournful or Sad Dusky-Wing, Erynnis tristis (Hesperiidae).
UC Davis butterfly expert Arthur Shapiro, professor of evolution and ecology at the University of California, Davis, describes it as "Common below 2000, including the Sacramento Valley; the only Erynnis routinely found in cities. A strong flier but not a very dedicated puddler, it is multiple-brooded, from March to October. This is the only common Dusky-Wing with a white fringe (compare E. funeralis)."
Shapiro says the Mournful Dusky-Wing visits tall blue verbena, yerba santa, California buckeye and a variety of garden flowers, including the butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii).
Today it was visiting lavender, both purple and white lavender. It lingered long enough to be admired.
Attached Images:
![MOURNFUL BUTTERFLY, Erynnis tristis (Hesperiidae), spreads its wings on lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) MOURNFUL BUTTERFLY, Erynnis tristis (Hesperiidae), spreads its wings on lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/4348.jpg)
Mournful Butterfly
![THE EYES of the Mournful or Sad Dusky-Wing, Erynnis tristis (Hesperiidae) are vivid in this photo. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) THE EYES of the Mournful or Sad Dusky-Wing, Erynnis tristis (Hesperiidae) are vivid in this photo. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/4349.jpg)
The Eyes Have It
![GOLDEN POLLEN glitters on the head of a Mournful Dusky-Wing. Butterflies are often overlooked as pollinators. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) GOLDEN POLLEN glitters on the head of a Mournful Dusky-Wing. Butterflies are often overlooked as pollinators. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/4350.jpg)
Golden Pollen