Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia)

In NC, this species is found throughout the coastal plain and sporadically across piedmont, usually in forested bottomlands with its hostplant, cane (Arundinaria), present. Southern Pearly-eyes are two-three brooded flying from spring into fall. The best way to field-separate them from the similar Northern Pearly-eye is by the color of the antennal club (all orange in Southern; black with orange tip in Northern). Note, too, that most Southerns show a horizontal line for least a few of the white marks inside the black eyespots whereas as Northern white marks tend to be round dots. Southerns may fly together with Creole Pearly-eyes, but the latter species usually shows 5 forewing eyespots and a post-median line on the underforewing with a couple of large outward bulges like knuckles on a fist.

Formerly classified as Enodia portlandia.

Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia)
Durham Co., NC
11 Sep 2012


Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia) Durham Co., NC 11 Sep 2012	Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia) Durham Co., NC 11 Sep 2012


Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia) Cumberland Co., NC 4 June 2006	Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia) Johnston Co., NC 29 May 2005


Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia) Hyde Co., NC 16 Sep 2006	Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia) Pender Co., NC 13 Sep 2009


Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia) Aberdeen Lake Park, Moore Co., NC 4 Aug 2016	Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia) Aberdeen Lake Park, Moore Co., NC 4 Aug 2016


Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia) Tyrrell Co., NC 28 Aug 2016	Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia) Moore Co., NC 28 Apr 2019

Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia)
Richmond Co., NC
11 Sep 2021

Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia)
Richmond Co., NC
11 Sep 2021


Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia) Richmond Co., NC 11 Sep 2021

Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia)
Quail Roost, Durham Co., NC
16 Aug 2020

Antennal club pattern suggests Southern Pearly-eye, but white spot pattern and location suggest Northern...hmmm...

Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia)
Durham Co., NC
11 Sep 2012

Sharing some Swamp White Oak (Quercus michauxii) slime flux with a Hackberry Emperor.

Southern Pearly-eye (Lethe portlandia)
Durham Co., NC
11 Sep 2012

Playing peek-a-boo.

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Created on ... May 30, 2005 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com