A grayish-brown butterfly of dappled forest light, marked with eyespots. They're shade specialists in forest interiors — rare among butterflies, which mostly prefer sun.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Lethe anthedon, the northern pearly-eye, is a species of butterfly of the subfamily Satyrinae in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in North America, from central Saskatchewan and eastern Nebraska east to Nova Scotia, south to central Alabama and Mississippi.
Source: Wikipedia — Lethe anthedon Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium butterfly with brown wings; large dark eye-spots near edges of all four wings; pale underside with subtle markings.
Similar species. Eyed Brown (similar; more wetland-focused). Other Lethe species (different ranges). Wood-nymphs (different patterns).
Voice. N/A
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Adults: tree sap, fungi, animal dung, fermenting fruit. Caterpillars: cut grasses.
Behavior. Among the few US butterflies that prefer to fly in deep forest shade rather than open sun. Often seen on tree trunks where adults feed on sap or sit camouflaged. Caterpillars feed on woodland grasses (especially Brachyelytrum erectum). Migratory in some areas; resident in southern parts of range.
§ Range
Eastern North American forests
§ Habitat
Mature deciduous forests, especially with woodland grass understory
§ Threats
Mature forest loss, deer overbrowsing reducing woodland grasses, fragmentation.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the northern pearly-eye is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support mature forest protection. Advocate for deer management. Don't mow forest edges aggressively.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Lethe anthedon
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Lethe anthedon
- iNaturalist · taxon 49333
- IUCN Red List — search for Lethe anthedon
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Lethe anthedon
§ Sources cited
- Butterflies and Moths of North America
- iNaturalist
- BugGuide
