Eyed Brown
Lethe eurydice (Linnaeus, 1763)
Family: Nymphalidae (fornerly Satyridae)
Status: Uncommon local resident
NENHP Ranking: S3 Tier 1
Range: Lethe eurydice occupies a large swath from northern Alberta east to New Brunswick south to Pennsylvania and Nebraska. Subspecies fumosa is found in Nebraska, northern Iowa and northern Illinois. In Nebraska the species is absent south of the Platte River (due to geography and vegetation changes) although Ray Stanford has collected it in southwest Nebraska.
Larval Hostplant(s): Various sedges (Carex sp.).
Broods/Flight Times: One flight from mid-June to mid-July.
Overwintering: As third and fourth instar larvae.
Habitat: Eyed Browns are found in wet meadows and low riparian areas.
Avg. Wingspan: 1 1/2 – 2 7/16 inches
Found at: Fontenelle Forest, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Gilbert-Baker, Harold Anderson, Scotia Canal & Hackberry Creek SWMAs, Willow Creek SRA, Crescent Lake NWR
Similar Species: Northern Pearly Eye and Common Wood Nymph
Notes: Eyed Browns have a habit of flying through vegetation rather than over it. Once a population is located they are sometimes numerous. Subspecies fumosa was described by R. A. Leussler in 1916 from specimens collected in what is now Fontenelle Forest
Eyed Brown, N. Loup River at Brewster, J. Nikkila
