Imperiled Butterflies: Florida Duskywing

About 150 butterfly species are found throughout Florida. 15 of those species are found only in extreme southern Florida and the Florida Keys. Continued expansion of urban development and widespread use of pesticides used to control mosquito populations have put many of these species in jeopardy.

This is part four of a multi-part series covering Florida’s imperiled butterflies.

Florida Duskywing

The Florida Duskywing (Ephyriades brunnea floridensis) is a dark colored butterfly measuring about an inch and a half to two inches in wingspan.

Males of the species are nearly black in color and the upper sides of the wings have an iridescent sheen and a circle of transparent white spots near the wing tips of the fore-wing. Females, like the one pictured above, are brown with more spots on the fore-wing and a violet iridescent sheen.

The larvae host on Key byrsonima (Byrsonima lucida) and Barbados cherry (Malpighia glabra) and they can be found in rare Tropical pine-Sabal palm scrub habitats of extreme south Florida and the Florida Keys.

The species has a conservation status of N2: NatureServe National Conservation Status Rank (NRank) – Imperiled. Imperiled in the nation because of rarity due to very restricted range, very few populations (often 20 or fewer), steep declines, or other factors making it very vulnerable to extirpation from the nation.

Scrub habitats are unusual because they were situated high enough that these areas became islands when the rest of Florida was inundated in ancient times. On these islands, plant and animal life became increasingly specialized as species adapted to the dry and isolated conditions of the scrub habitats. About 40 to 60% of species found in these habitats are endemic to those locations and are found no where else in the world.

Because they are not susceptible to regular flooding, scrub habitats have become prized for development. As a result of regular development, Florida’s scrub habitats have become some of the most endangered ecosystems in the state.