Hoary Edge Butterfly

Description:

Upperside of wings is dark brown; center of forewing with a transparent gold band. Fringes are checkered. Underside of hindwing is black-brown with a wide silvery white band along most of the outer margin. Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 1 15/16 inches (4.5 - 4.9 cm). Adults nectar from flowers of common milkweed, dogbane, buttonbush, Japanese honeysuckle, and New Jersey tea.

Habitat:

Range is Eastern United States from central New England south to northern Florida; west to Iowa, eastern Kansas, and central Texas. Open woodland and brushy areas, particularly oak or pine woods with sandy soil. This one was photographed at a cultivated butterfly garden at the Silver Bluff Audubon Center near Jackson, SC.

Notes:

Host plants for larva include tickseed and various members of the pea family (Fabaceae). To seek females males perch in forest openings on branches about 3-6 feet above ground. They fly out repeatedly to chase other insects but will return to the same perch. Females lay eggs singly under leaflets of host plants that are in full or partial shade. Caterpillars hibernate.