Rather than open meadows, which butterflies often prefer, the Northern Pearly Eye, Enodia anthedon, choses to flutter about in the woods, whether shady or with sun filtering through.
Fluttering by, feeling the need to rest, he’ll land upside-down to view his world.
His caterpillar hosts are various species of grasses, grasses which are happy living on the forest floor.
As an adult he dines on dung, mud, fungi, rotting fruit, carrion, and sap from willows, poplars, and birch.
A clever little guy, with an average wingspan of a bit more than 2 inches, this butterfly knows just where to land as I stalk him with my camera. He checks out the available landing spots and if it’s available he’ll chose a patch of poison ivy, just out of reach, as a safe haven.