Northern Pearly-eye (Butterflies of Fundy National Park of Canada / Les papillons du parc national du Canada Fundy)

Northern Pearly-eye

Lethe anthedon

General description ⁷

This medium sized butterfly has a wingspan of 45-67 mm and black antennal clubs. Dorsal wing surface is purplish brown and there are dark eyespots on both the fore and hindwings. Ventral wing is also purplish brown. The ventral forewing has a row of four black spots that are aligned with each other, the spots are surrounded by diffuse white and have white pupils. It can be distinguished from other satyrids in Alberta by its purplish brown colour, the presence of large eyespots, and the angled hindwing margin. The short, barrel-shaped eggs are green (Bird et al., 1995). Larvae have green yellow heads with red-tipped horns. Their bodies are yellowish green with green and yellow stripes. They also have a cleft tail tipped with pink (Bird et al., 1995). Pupae are green with cream-coloured heads (Bird et al., 1995).

Distribution ⁸

Recent records from central Alberta suggest that E. anthedon may be extending its range (Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, 2002). Its Canadian range extends east from Central Alberta to Nova Scotia (Layberry et al., 1998; Opler et al., 1995). In the United States, it is found south from the Canadian border to central Alabama and Mississippi and from Nebraska eastward (Opler et al., 1995).

Habitat ⁹

A shade-loving butterfly found in poplar woods near streams and lakes in East Central Alberta.

Migration ¹⁰

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Behaviour ¹¹

Adults feed on sap, dung, fungi, carrion, and mud but not flower nectar. Males both perch and patrol for females (Scott, 1986).

Conservation status ¹²

Extremely rare in Alberta; provincial rank S1 and "Status Undetermined" because of few records.

Threats ¹³

Degree of Threat: D : Unthreatened throughout its range, communities may be threatened in minor portions of the range or degree of variation falls within natural variation

Taxonomy ¹⁴

Comments: The use of Lethe over Enodia follows Pelham (2008), and was based on Chermock (1947), Lesse (1957) and Scott (1986).

Modern authors have generally not recognized subspecies but observations by Grkovich and Pavulaan (2003) in the contact areas suggest there may be some ecological and behaviors differences as well as the usual minor maculation features. However their report of "subspecies" borealis from high elevation North Carolina is premature and obviously needs verification, including actual specimens. The purported color difference is not obvious from the photograph (and might not be completely accurate in a photograph) and the pale band enclosing the eyespots is well within the range of variation of anthedon. The behavioral observations are subject to interpretation. There are no supporting specimens. Both "subspecies" are widespread and not rare.

Sources and Credits

(c) Bill Bouton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.flickr.com/photos/billbouton/4569037388/
(c) Jeffrey Pippen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://butterfliesofamerica.com/images/Nymphalidae/Satyrinae/lethe_a_anthedon/Lethe_a._anthedon_USA_NORTH_CAROLINA_Orange_Co._19-V-04_JP_2.jpg
(c) Bill Bouton, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://butterfliesofamerica.com/images/Nymphalidae/Satyrinae/lethe_anthedon_borealis/Lethe_anthedon_borealis_Houghton_lake_Roscommon_Co_MI_USA_11-VII-04_43.jpg
(c) Howell C. Curtis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://butterfliesofamerica.com/images/Nymphalidae/Satyrinae/lethe_anthedon_borealis/Lethe_anthedon_borealis_Buffalo_Trace_Farm_Harrison_Co_Depauw_IN_USA_13-VIII-09_1.jpg
(c) Jim P. Brock, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://butterfliesofamerica.com/images/Nymphalidae/Satyrinae/lethe_a_anthedon/63_Lethe_a_anthedon_M_City_of_Chesapeake_West_Rd_27_mi_S_of_Dominion_Blvd_Hwy_104_VA_USA_26-V-85_3.jpg
(c) Jeffrey Pippen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://butterfliesofamerica.com/images/Nymphalidae/Satyrinae/lethe_a_anthedon/Lethe_a._anthedon_USA_NORTH_CAROLINA_Orange_Co._19-V-04_JP_1.jpg
(c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31883860
(c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31883859
(c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31883861
(c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28841629
(c) Leslie Ries, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/20605389
(c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31883857
(c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28841623
(c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28841618

More Info

Range Map

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