Northern Pearly-eye (Lethe anthedon) is in the Brush-footed Butterflies family (Nymphalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 18,300 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 Northern Pearly-eye: observations by month (U.S.)
About Northern Pearly-eye
Lethe anthedon, the northern pearly-eye, is a species of alpines, arctics, nymphs and satyrs in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Northern Pearly-eye by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 1,966 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Ohio | 1,849 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Maryland | 1,517 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Michigan | 1,173 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Minnesota | 1,102 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Vermont | 1,029 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Illinois | 1,019 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 1,017 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 1,013 | July | Jun–Jul |
| New York | 841 | July | Jun–Jul |
| North Carolina | 767 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Tennessee | 747 | August | May–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 516 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Kentucky | 506 | August | May–Sep |
| Maine | 501 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Missouri | 457 | August | Aug–Aug |
| West Virginia | 384 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Arkansas | 378 | August | May–Sep |
| Indiana | 344 | August | May–Aug |
| Georgia | 237 | May | May–May |
| Alabama | 144 | May | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 137 | May | May–Oct |
| New Jersey | 130 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 103 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Iowa | 85 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Nebraska | 83 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Connecticut | 69 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Kansas | 47 | August | Aug–Sep |
| South Carolina | 32 | July | May–Sep |
| North Dakota | 22 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Mississippi | 19 | August | Jul–Sep |
| South Dakota | 17 | July | Jul–Jul |
| District of Columbia | 15 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Louisiana | 14 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Rhode Island | 13 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Delaware | 5 | August | Aug–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 Northern Pearly-eye?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to August.
Where is Northern Pearly-eye most often seen?
The most observations come from Virginia, Ohio, Maryland.