Common names: Banded Oak Duskywing, Sleepy Duskywing

E. brizo is a species of Hesperiidae that occurs throughout North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

 and is commonly confused with E. juvenalis

Erynnis juvenalis

The Juvenal's Duskywing is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family.-Appearance and Distribution:Common in eastern North American oak woods from southern Manitoba to southern Quebec and Nova Scotia southward to Texas and Florida. This dark brown skipper is larger than most eastern Duskywings...

 and E. lucilius

Erynnis lucilius

Columbine Duskywing is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from southern Quebec to Manitoba and south to northeastern USA....

.

Description

The upper forewing is blackish-brown with continuous bluish-brown spots. The hindwing is almost completely brown with lighter brown spots. The caterpillar of this species is small and gray-green, with purplish tips. There is a faint lateral white stripe. Unlike most caterpillars Hesperiidae have distinct heads and the E. brizos head is brown with an orange spot.

Habitat

This small Erynnis stays in Oak-pine barrens and cut-over forest. It can be seen near forest edges including near roads, train tracks and towns.

Life cycle

There is a single brood which flies between April and July in this period the females lay eggs singly on the host plants, black oak and other common oak in its range. Adults nectar on blueberry, dandelion, birdfoot violet, blue violets and strawberries.