Macoun's Arctic
Common NameMacoun's Arctic
Scientific NameOeneis macounii
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilySatyrinae
Wingspan (mm)60
Primary Colorsorange, black, grey, brown
HabitatOpen boreal forests, pine barrens, forest edges, clearings
Geographic RangeBoreal regions of North America, including Canada (British Columbia to Quebec) and northern United States (e.g., Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan)
Host PlantsCarex (sedges), Poa (bluegrass)
Flight PeriodLate May to early July
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThis species is univoltine, completing one generation per year, but larvae often take two years to develop, overwintering twice. Larvae feed on various grasses and sedges.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive combination of bright orange forewings with a single large black eyespot and the mottled, bark-like underside of the hindwings. Often found flying erratically in coniferous forest clearings.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly characterized by bright orange forewings with a prominent black eyespot near the apex, and cryptically patterned hindwings on the underside, resembling bark or lichen.
