Dreamy Duskywing - Alabama Butterfly Atlas

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Dreamy Duskywings are northern butterflies that reach the southern limit of their range in the mountains of extreme northeast Alabama. They are believed to have only one flight during the year, emerging somewhat later than many of the other spring-flying duskywings. However, it is possible that a second brood may occur in our region.

Male Dreamys fly close to the ground, perching on low twigs or the ground to wait for females. Females flutter through low vegetation, brushy areas, and forest edges where host plants occur. Both males and females sip moisture and minerals from damp soil and appear noticeably smaller than other duskywings in a mixed puddle club. They nectar from a wide variety of spring flowers, but like typical duskywings, are most likely to be seen perched on the ground.

Larvae live in leaf shelters constructed from host plant leaves. Final instar caterpillars overwinter in the leaf shelter and pupate during the following spring.

The Dreamy Duskywing occurs from Nova Scotia west to British Columbia. In the eastern U.S. it extends southward into northern Georgia, Alabama, and Arkansas.

Distribution and Abundance

A dot on the county map indicates that there is at least one documented record of the species within that county. In some cases, a species may be common throughout the county, in others it may be found in only a specific habitat. The High Count information shows the highest numbers recorded for this species as well as when and where they occurred.

The sightings bar graphs depict the timing of flight(s) within each of three geographic regions. Place your cursor on a bar within the graph to see the number of individuals recorded during that period.

The abundance calendar displays the total number of individuals recorded within each week of the month. Both the graphs and the calendar are on based data collection that began in 2000.

The records analyzed here are only a beginning. As more data is collected, these maps and graphs will paint a more accurate picture of distribution and abundance in Alabama. Submit your sightings to albutterflyatlas@gmail.com.

Sightings in the following counties: DeKalb, Jackson

Sightings in the past 5 years
Sightings in the past 5 - 10 years
Sightings more than 10 years ago

High count(s):

2 - Jackson - 4/24/2014
1 - DeKalb - 4/13/2021
1 - Jackson - 5/16/2009

View county names by moving the mouse over a county or view a map with county names

Jan				Feb				Mar				Apr				May				Jun				Jul				Aug				Sep				Oct				Nov				Dec
1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4
													1		2			1

Habitat

Openings near hardwoods or mixed forests; woodland edges, forest roadsides. May travel to nearby fields for nectar. Because it is a northern species, in Alabama, it is most llkely to be found at high elevations.

Host Plants

Reports from other states list willows (Salix spp.), poplars/aspens (Populus spp.), and locusts (Robinia spp.). In southeastern populations, oaks are suspected but not confirmed.

In Alabama, host plants have not yet been documented.