Northern Pearly-eye Joins the Chat

A couple days ago as I stood outside the yoga studio chatting with my dear teacher Kumud, a Northern Pearly-eye (Enodia anthedon) came by to join in the conversation, landing on me. I must keep in mind what it had to say. So profound. This friendly creature, this butterfly, has a wingspan of two inches. And is colored with many shades of brown. But it is butterfly not a moth.

Here’s a closeup of its antennae. A good way to tell the difference – butterfly or moth. This is what a butterfly antenna is like. A simple “wire” with a club-like top. A moth has a feathery antennae if it is male. A female moth has antennae that are saw-toothed. Butterflies can be tiny and brown. Moths can be large and marvelously colored. Pay attention to those antennae.

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Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.