Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,539 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Harvester: observations by month (U.S.)
About Harvester
Feniseca tarquinius, the harvester, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae, and the only member of the monotypic genus Feniseca. It is found in North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Harvester by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 441 | August | May–Sep |
| North Carolina | 245 | April | Apr–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 233 | July | May–Sep |
| New York | 201 | August | May–Sep |
| Virginia | 201 | April | Apr–Sep |
| Tennessee | 192 | April | Apr–Aug |
| Michigan | 179 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 171 | July | May–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 159 | August | May–Sep |
| Maryland | 157 | August | Apr–Sep |
| Illinois | 153 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New Jersey | 125 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Indiana | 110 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Georgia | 106 | March | Mar–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 95 | June | May–Aug |
| Minnesota | 87 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Missouri | 81 | August | Apr–Sep |
| Vermont | 73 | June | May–Aug |
| Arkansas | 70 | July | Mar–Aug |
| Maine | 69 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Kentucky | 53 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Alabama | 51 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Kansas | 38 | July | Jul–Jul |
| South Carolina | 38 | September | Apr–Sep |
| West Virginia | 32 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 27 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Connecticut | 25 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Delaware | 25 | August | May–Aug |
| Iowa | 25 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Florida | 20 | July | May–Aug |
| Louisiana | 18 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Mississippi | 12 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Nebraska | 9 | June | Jun–Jul |
| District of Columbia | 6 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 6 | May | May–May |
| Texas | 6 | July | Jul–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Gossamer-winged Butterflies)
Gray Hairstreak
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Red-banded Hairstreak
Marine Blue
Ceraunus Blue
Summer Azure
Western Pygmy-Blue
Reakirt's Blue
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 Harvester?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from April to September.
Where is Harvester most often seen?
The most observations come from Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.