Appalachian Brown

Description:

Two subspecies: the nominate subspecies and S. a. leeuwi; only subspecies leeuwi is found in Canada. Adult: wings medium brown. Lower side of forewing with the two end eyespots larger than the middle two; spots may not touch. Dark line inside the hindwing row spot is sinuous or gently curving (not zigzagged, as it is in the Eyed Brown). Adults fly from late June to August or September in the north (one brood); June to October in the south (two broods) May be confused with the Eyed Brown (Lethe eurydice) The dark line on the underside is zigzagged in the Eyed Brown, not gently curved as it is in the Appalachian Brown. Also, the Eyed Brown is restricted to areas of sedges, and is never found in dry woods far from any wet area. Even where large populations occur in extensive wet areas, Eyed Browns seldom stray any distance.

Habitat:

Minnesota through southern Ontario & Quebec to Maine, south through the Appalachians and coastal plain to Florida, west to Mississippi. Wooded wet swamps, wet sedge areas near wood edges, and along slow-moving streams. Often wanders in small numbers throughout wooded areas, and is sometimes seen in dry woods, far from any wet area. Adults feed on tree sap and other non-floral resources. Larvae feed on leaves of sedges: Carex lacustris, C. stricta, and Giant Sedge (Rhynchospora inundata). Numbers vary from scarce to common, but is never seen in abundance like the Eyed Brown.