Harvester
Common NameHarvester
Scientific NameFeniseca tarquinius
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyMiletinae
Wingspan (mm)28
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsorange, brown, black
HabitatMoist woodlands, swamps, bogs, stream banks, areas with alder trees
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to Manitoba and south to Florida and Texas
Host Plantswoolly aphids
Flight PeriodMay to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUnique among North American butterflies, the larvae are carnivorous, feeding exclusively on woolly aphids. They are often camouflaged to resemble their prey or their waxy secretions.
Identification TipsLook for its small size, distinctive orange and black mottled pattern, and its association with woolly aphid colonies, particularly on alder trees. It is the only North American butterfly with carnivorous larvae.
Description
A small butterfly with orange-brown wings heavily marked with irregular black spots and patches, giving it a mottled appearance. The underside is paler with similar markings.
