Lethe anthedon explained

Lethe anthedon, the northern pearly-eye, is a species of butterfly of the subfamily Satyrinae in the family Nymphalidae.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} It is found in North America,^[5] from central Saskatchewan and eastern Nebraska east to Nova Scotia, south to central Alabama and Mississippi.^[6]

The MONA or Hodges number for Lethe anthedon is 4568.1.^[7]

Description

The wingspan is 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches (43–67 mm.)^{[6] [8]} The upperside is brown with dark eyespots and the underside is brown. Adults feed on dung, fungi, carrion and sap from willows, poplars, and birches.

The larvae feed on various grasses, including Leersia virginica, Erianthus species, Muhlenbergia species, bearded shortgrass (Brachyelytrum erectum), Uniola latifolia, bottlebrush grass (Hystrix patula), and false melic grass (Schizachne purpurascens).^[8] The host plants of a northern population include sedges (Carex species).^[9]

The species overwinters in the larval stage.

Subspecies

• Lethe anthedon anthedon (A. Clark, 1936)
• Lethe anthedon borealis (A. Clark, 1936)

Similar species

• Satyrodes appalachia / Lethe appalachia (R. L. Chermock, 1947) – Appalachian brown
• Satyrodes eurydice [''[[Lethe eurydice]]] (Linnaeus, 1763) – eyed brown

Further reading

• Book: Arnett . Ross H.. 2000. American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico. CRC Press.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Lethe anthedon Species Information. BugGuide.net. 2018-02-12.
2. Web site: Lethe anthedon Report. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 2018-02-12.
3. Web site: Lethe anthedon Overview. Encyclopedia of Life. 2018-02-12.
4. Web site: North American Moth Photographers Group, Lethe anthedon. 2018-02-12.
5. Web site: Species Enodia anthedon - Northern Pearly-Eye - BugGuide.net . 2008-11-20.
6. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Enodia-anthedon Enodia anthedon
7. Web site: 2018-02-12. Pelham . J.P.. 1 July 2017. A Catalog of the Butterflies of the United States and Canada.
8. http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species/NorthernPearly-Eye_e.php Northern Pearly-eye
9. Larval host plants of Enodia anthedon ..., The Taxonomic Report, Vol 7 No 6, 2014.