American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)

In NC, American Snouts are found statewide and are uncommon to locally common, less so in the mountains. If one encounters snouts in the field, it's not unusual to just find one for the day. Flight data indicate they're two-brooded in NC, one in the spring and another in late summer, however they may be seen any month of the year. This is one of the few species of NC butterflies where adults overwinter and can be seen along woodland trails on warm winter days.

Snouts are distinctive among North American butterflies in having very long palps giving this species a "snout-like" appearance. These butterflies are usually seen on dirt roads or landing on people to imbibe salts. It's somewhat uncommon to encounter them nectaring.

Subspecies Libytheana carinenta bachmanii is found in much of the esatern US, while subspecies Libytheana carinenta larvata (= L. c. streckeri) occurs in the southwest.

American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) American Snout (Libytheana carinenta bachmanii)
Durham Co., NC
30 May 2013
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta bachmanii)
Churchill Rd., Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta bachmanii)
Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC
3 May 2020

This individual kept rotating around the stem to avoid my camera...

American Snout (Libytheana carinenta bachmanii)
Brumley Preserve, Orange Co., NC
9 June 2023		 American Snout (Libytheana carinenta bachmanii)
Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
13 Sep 2020
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta bachmanii)
Hill Forest, Orange Co., NC
16 May 2023
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta bachmanii)
Nectaring on Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
Orange Co., NC
16 July 2003		 American Snout (Libytheana carinenta bachmanii)
Durham Co., NC
24 Sep 2004
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta bachmanii)
Orange Co., NC
8 Sep 2005		 American Snout (Libytheana carinenta bachmanii)
Orange Co., NC
16 May 2006
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta bachmanii)
Durham Division Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
18 Sep 2021
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta bachmanii)
Allegan Co., MI
5 July 2004		 American Snout (Libytheana carinenta bachmanii)
Mascatatuck NWR, Jackson Co., IN
27 July 2015
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta bachmanii)
Orange Co., NC
18 Aug 2013
Below is subspecies Libytheana carinenta larvata, which occurs in the southwestern US southward into Mexico.
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta larvata)
Santa Cruz Co., AZ
5 Nov 2024
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta larvata)
National Butterfly Center, Hidalgo Co., TX
1 May 2018
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta larvata)
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta larvata)
Washington Co., TX
16 Apr 2018		 American Snout (Libytheana carinenta larvata)
Hidalgo Co., TX
15 Oct 2004
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta larvata)
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta larvata)
Hidalgo Co., TX
13 Oct 2004		 American Snout (Libytheana carinenta larvata)
Santa Cruz Co., AZ
5 Nov 2024

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Created on ... July 17, 2003 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com