Size:
Wingspan is 1 5/8 - 2 1/8 inches.

Similar Species:
Southern Pearly-eye
Creole Pearly-eye

Habitat:
Rich hardwood forests near streams or wet areas. Along trails and dirt roads in or along hardwood forests.

Range/Abundance:
Uncommon yet wide spread in the mountains and a bit harder to find in the piedmont. Only found in four counties in the mountains of SC.

Flight Period:
Adults fly from mid May until mid September in two to three broods with gaps between broods.

Larval Host Plants:
Grasses.

Comments:
Northern Pearly-eyes will perch on gravel roads, trail sides and tree trunks. Also they like mud, rotten fruit and carrion, they do not visit flowers.

Pearly-eyes can be difficult to tell apart in some cases. At the edge of the coastal plain and piedmont you might encounter all three species of pearly-eye. In the coastal plain likely you would encounter both Creole and Southern Pearly-eyes. In the mountains, Northern Pearly-eye would be your only pearly-eye, so there it is easy to ID

Northern Pearly-Eye antennal clubs always have black before the tip and a pale tip and Southern Pearly-Eye always have completely orange antennal clubs.

The top photo was taken in the WV mountains on July 07, 2003. The second photo was taken in Durham, Co., NC on August 17, 2002. The third photo was taken in Iredale Co., NC on August 19, 2000. The bottom photo was taken in Caswell Co., NC on June 04, 2000.

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