Birds of Oklahoma
Butterflies of Oklahoma

 Northern Peraly Eye butterfly

Southern Pearly Eye (Enodia portlandia)

County State Date      
McCurtain OK 04/2007      

Wing span: 2 3/16 - 2 3/4 inches (5.6 -7 cm).

Identification:
Antennal clubs are orange. Upperside is brown with dark eyespots at the margins. Underside is light brown; submarginal row of 4 spots (Florida females may have 5) on forewing is slightly curved and brown line inside this spot row is straight or zigzagged. Spots are encircled by diffuse white.

Life history: Males perch on tree trunks, sometimes head downward, to wait for females. Eggs are laid singly on or near the host plant; caterpillars feed on leaves. Older caterpillars hibernate.

Flight: Three broods from March-October.

Caterpillar hosts: Bamboo switch cane (A. tecta).

Adult food: Sap, rotting fruit, carrion, dung.

Habitat: Shady, damp woods near stream-fed swamps.

Range: Eastern Oklahoma and eastern Texas east through the southeastern United States.



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