Wild Indigo Duskywing

The Wild Indigo Duskywing can be found in open woods and barrens, highways, railroad beds, and upland fields for the introduced crown vetch. It can be one of the trickiest Duskywings to identify. Many authors say that this species and the Columbine Duskywing are probably indistinguishable in the field, except when in association with their host plants.

Photo credit: John Blair

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  • Canadian Milkvetch – Astragalus canadensis

    Columbine – Aquilegia canadensis

    Lupine – Lupinus spp

    Pine – Pinus spp

    Wild Indigo – Baptisia spp

  • Crown Vetch – Securigera varia

    False Lupine – Thermopsis villosa

  • Can be found puddling

    Aster, Black-eyed Susan, Blazing Star, Buttonbush, Dogbane, Monarda, Purple Coneflower, Thistle, Wild Geranium, Wild Strawberry, Vetch

  • Brazilian Verbena, Butterfly Bush (make sure you use a sterile variety), Clover, Sunflower, Zinnia

  • April-October. Two broods each year, last brood overwinters

  • Butterflies and Moths of North America. Butterfliesandmoths.org

    Brenda Dziedzic, Raising Butterflies in the Garden

    Heather Holm, Pollinators of Native Plants

    National Wildlife Federation. Nwf.org

    Xerces Society. Xerces.org