Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) is in the Skippers family (Hesperiidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 27,657 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Horace's Duskywing: observations by month (U.S.)
About Horace's Duskywing
Erynnis horatius, the Horace's duskywing, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from Massachusetts, west to eastern South Dakota, south through most of the eastern United States to Florida, the Gulf Coast, and southern Texas, south in the west through south-eastern Utah, Colorado, north-eastern Arizona, and New Mexico.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Horace's Duskywing by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 7,507 | April | Apr–Sep |
| Texas | 6,673 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Georgia | 2,343 | August | May–Aug |
| North Carolina | 2,034 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Virginia | 1,353 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Maryland | 1,284 | July | Jul–Jul |
| South Carolina | 1,015 | August | May–Sep |
| Louisiana | 548 | July | Apr–Sep |
| New Jersey | 544 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 541 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Alabama | 507 | August | May–Sep |
| Arkansas | 417 | June | May–Aug |
| Ohio | 388 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Tennessee | 318 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New York | 306 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 302 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Mississippi | 207 | May | May–May |
| Missouri | 195 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Illinois | 182 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 127 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 122 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Indiana | 107 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Kentucky | 106 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Colorado | 84 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Delaware | 70 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Kansas | 67 | July | Jun–Aug |
| District of Columbia | 65 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Connecticut | 61 | July | Jul–Aug |
| New Mexico | 34 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Michigan | 32 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Nebraska | 31 | August | Jun–Aug |
| West Virginia | 23 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Maine | 21 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 15 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Iowa | 12 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Minnesota | 8 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 7 | August | Jun–Oct |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Skippers)
Fiery Skipper
Silver-spotted Skipper
Huron Skipper
Zabulon Skipper
Peck's Skipper
Clouded Skipper
Long-tailed Skipper
Common Checkered-Skipper
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Horace's Duskywing?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from April to September.
Where is Horace's Duskywing most often seen?
The most observations come from Florida, Texas, Georgia.