Early instar Erynnis juvenalis larvae on Oak and Hickory hosts
click on any image for larger view


1st instar on Oak
1st instar on Hickory
1st instar - pre molt - Hickory
1st instar - pre molt - Oak


2nd instar - post molt
2nd instar - later post molt
early 2nd instar ?
late 2nd instar


late 2nd instar ?
2nd/3rd instar pre-molt
early 3rd instar 6/01 ? - Hickory


Erynnis juvenalis 6/7 3rd instar? no larger picture
Erynnis juvenalis 6/15 late 3rd/4th instar ?


Erynnis juvenalis 6/24 4th instar ? no larger picture


2 shelters - Hickory - early instar
shelter - Hickory - early instar
shelter - Oak - early instar

Hickory (Carya sp.) is an unknown host for Erynnis juvenalis. All current literature list Oak (Quercus) (many species) as the sole host plant.

In the late summer and fall of 2001, I found numerous larvae on Quercus species as well as Carya pallida and Carya tomentosa (see page on later stages on Carya). These were in various stages of maturity, including penultimate stages ready to overwinter (see page on color change). It was suggested that these could have moved off of Ouercus in later stages, and early stages should be searched for on Carya to show that this was a suitable host.

The pictures above show that early stages do occur, and thrive on Carya. Since all of these are "wild" larvae, instars were estimated on size and pre-molt stages that were seen. Obviously, these stages did not move off Quercus, and in most occurrences, the nearest oak was far from the Carya host with the early instar larvae. Early instar larvae are feeding, growing normally, and thriving on Carya, indicating it is a perfectly good secondary host for Erynnis juvenalis.


The pictures below are of two Erynnis horatius larvae for comparison. I have not found these on any host but Quercus. Although the eggs were probably deposited in a similar time period, E. horatius develops much faster than E. juvenalis, because they are double brooded. This species only ever shows faint yellowish tones, and develops the white subdorsal stripes early. This stripe in E. juvenalis is always yellow, even on older, mature larvae, that become much paler. (see page on E. horatius larvae development)

For comparison pictures, of the larvae of all four species of southen NJ Erynnis, and identification notes, GO HERE



Erynnis horatius 6/5/02 - Oak - no larger picture
Erynnis horatius 6/15/02 - Oak

Digital Pictures by Bob Barber bbarber@odonate.com