The Northern Pearly-eye is a woodland butterfly that is seldom seen in open areas. It has a swift, erratic flight pattern and often lands head-down on the shaded side of a sunlit tree. Its wings are cloaked in a shimmering grayish-brown, with the upper sides marked by subtle mahogany ribbing and a row of rounded, eye-like spots along the edges. The black antennae tipped with orange help distinguish it from the closely related Southern Pearly-eye.
“Northern Pearly-eye” by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, licensed under (CC BY 2.0)
Northern Pearly-eye Facts
Butterfly Family: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)
Butterfly Subfamily: Satyrinae
Butterfly Wingspan: 1 3/4 – 2 5/8 inches
Butterfly Habitat: Damp deciduous woods, usually near marshes or waterways; mixed or grassy woodlands
🪴Host Plants
These are the plants where Northern Pearly-eye females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:
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Bearded Shorthusk (Brachyelytrum erectum)
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Bottlebrush Grass (Elymus hystrix)
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River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
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Whitegrass (Leersia virginica)
🌸 Feeding Behavior
Adults rarely visit flowers. They primarily feed on:
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Dung
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Moisture from damp soil and leaf litter
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Rotting fruit
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Sap flows
Their preference for sap, rotting fruit, and dung is due to their shaded woodland habitats, where flowers are less abundant.