American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)

In NC, American Snouts are found statewide and are uncommon to locally common, less so in the mountains. If one encounters snouts in the field, it's not unusual to just find one for the day. Flight data indicated they're two-brooded in NC, one in the spring and another in late summer, however they may be seen any month of the year. This is one of the few species of NC butterflies where adults overwinter and can be seen along woodland trails on warm winter days.

Snouts are distinctive among North American butterflies in having very long palps giving this species a "snout-like" appearance. These butterflies are usually seen on dirt roads or landing on people to imbibe salts. It's somewhat uncommon to encounter them nectaring.


Nectaring on Pycnanthemum tenuifolium Orange Co., NC 16 July 2003	Durham Co., NC 24 Sep 2004


Orange Co., NC 8 Sep 2005	Orange Co., NC 16 May 2006


Allegan Co., MI 5 July 2004	Hidalgo Co., TX 15 Oct 2004


Hidalgo Co., TX 13 Oct 2004

North Carolina Butterflies | North American Butterflies | Jeff's Nature Page

Created on ... July 17, 2003 | Updated on ... Jan 16, 2007 | jspippen@duke.edu