American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) is in the Brush-footed Butterflies family (Nymphalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 35,417 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph American Snout: observations by month (U.S.)
About American Snout
Libytheana carinenta also called the American snout butterfly or common snout butterfly is a member of the subfamily Libytheinae in the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae. This species is found in both North and South America. The larval host plants are Celtis species on which the eggs are laid singly. Massive migrations of this species often attract attention in the Texas and Mexican newspapers.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
American Snout by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 16,665 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Arizona | 5,716 | September | Aug–Nov |
| Virginia | 1,099 | July | May–Sep |
| Illinois | 1,084 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Tennessee | 985 | July | May–Aug |
| Ohio | 936 | July | Jul–Sep |
| North Carolina | 814 | June | Mar–Aug |
| Alabama | 655 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Georgia | 573 | June | Mar–Sep |
| Arkansas | 552 | June | May–Aug |
| Missouri | 527 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Kentucky | 467 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Louisiana | 461 | April | Mar–May |
| Oklahoma | 458 | June | May–Sep |
| Maryland | 450 | July | Jun–Sep |
| New Mexico | 438 | October | Jul–Nov |
| California | 379 | October | Oct–Nov |
| South Carolina | 360 | April | Feb–Aug |
| Florida | 315 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Indiana | 307 | July | Jun–Sep |
| New York | 306 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 278 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Kansas | 245 | July | Jun–Sep |
| New Jersey | 214 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Mississippi | 183 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 141 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Nevada | 139 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Iowa | 127 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Colorado | 89 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Michigan | 72 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Nebraska | 69 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Utah | 58 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Minnesota | 56 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Delaware | 45 | July | Jun–Sep |
| West Virginia | 39 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 27 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Connecticut | 26 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Vermont | 25 | August | Jul–Aug |
| District of Columbia | 20 | May | May–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 10 | July | Jul–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Monarch
Gulf Fritillary
Common Buckeye
Red Admiral
Pearl Crescent
Painted Lady
American Lady
Variegated Fritillary
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American Snout?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from April to November.
Where is American Snout most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Arizona, Virginia.