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Propertius Duskywing

Erynnis propertius

Small dark brown skipper butterfly with faint pattern and white fringe. Caterpillars feed on Gambel oak and related species in Bay Area foothills. Presence indicates native oak woodland habitat health.

Plants that support Propertius Duskywing

19 plants

American Garlic

Allium unifolium

moderate

geophyte

Spring bloom period coincides with adult activity

Bay Area native

Baby blue eyes

Nemophila menziesii

moderate

annual

Adult nectar source during activity period

Bay Area native

Big Deervetch

Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia

moderate

perennial herb

Adult feeding on plant material or associated resources

Bay Area native

Brittleleaf Manzanita

Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. crustacea

high

shrub

Caterpillars utilize manzanita foliage as primary host plant

Bay Area nativeKeystone species

California Golden Violet

Viola pedunculata

moderate

perennial herb

Caterpillar host plant in spring months

Bay Area native

Chaparral Pea

Pickeringia montana var. montana

high

shrub

Primary host plant for spring generation larvae

Bay Area native

Chaparral Sunflower

Helianthella californica

moderate

perennial herb

caterpillars utilize foliage in spring months

Bay Area native

Coast Live Oak

Quercus agrifolia

moderate

tree

Oak-specialist butterfly; larval development on coast live oak foliage

Bay Area nativeKeystone species

Deerweed

Acmispon glaber

moderate

shrub

Spring nectar foraging

Bay Area native

Hooker's Onion

Allium acuminatum

moderate

geophyte

Spring adult nectar feeding after emergence

Bay Area native

Interior Goldenbush

Ericameria linearifolia

moderate

shrub

Single spring generation; larval development on foliage

Bay Area native

Narrowleaf mule ears

Wyethia angustifolia

moderate

perennial herb

Adult nectar source in spring-early summer

Bay Area native

Oregon White Oak

Quercus garryana

high

tree

Larval host plant; caterpillars feed on oak foliage spring-summer

Bay Area nativeKeystone species

Pacific Pea

Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus

high

vine

Larvae utilize Lathyrus as primary host plant

Bay Area native

Pacific Poison Oak

Toxicodendron diversilobum

high

shrub

Larval foodplant; spring and early summer broods

Bay Area native

Puget Balsamroot

Balsamorhiza deltoidea

moderate

perennial herb

Spring nectar source for adult butterflies

Bay Area native

Scytheleaf Onion

Allium falcifolium

moderate

geophyte

Early spring caterpillar host; larvae develop on Allium foliage

Bay Area native

Woodbalm

Lepechinia calycina

moderate

shrub

spring adult foraging

Bay Area native

Yerba Buena

Clinopodium douglasii

high

perennial herb

Larvae feed on Clinopodium and related mints in early spring; single generation in California

Bay Area native