# Appalachian Brown (*Lethe appalachia*) The Appalachian Brown is a lovely butterfly with brown wings that have orange spots. They flutter around in sunny places and are often seen resting on flowers or leaves. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Appalachian Brown](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Appalachian_Brown_-_Lethe_appalachia%252C_Braley_Pond%252C_George_Washington_National_Forest%252C_Virginia_%2834920822840%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Appalachian_Brown_-_Lethe_appalachia%252C_Braley_Pond%252C_George_Washington_National_Forest%252C_Virginia_%2834920822840%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Appalachian Brown is a medium-sized butterfly with a dark, uniform brown upper surface on its wings. Its underside features distinctive, circular eyespots, often ringed in yellow or orange, set against a mottled brown background. This coloration provides excellent camouflage in its wetland environments. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Lethe ## Interesting facts - Its caterpillars spend winter tucked away in sedge plants, waiting for spring to awaken! - The unique eyespots on its wings can fool predators into attacking the wrong spot, helping it escape! - Unlike many butterflies, adults prefer sipping tree sap or rotting fruit over flower nectar! - You'll often spot this butterfly fluttering low and erratically in sunlit patches of marshy wetlands! ## Special abilities - **Fake Eyes:** Appalachian Brown can flash prominent eyespots on its hindwings that help them startle or confuse predators into attacking a less vital part. - **Wetland Wanderer:** Appalachian Brown has larvae that can feed on tough sedges and inhabit marshy areas, allowing them to thrive where other butterflies cannot. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 45-55 mm - **Size:** 11-18 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-20 days - **Flight Speed:** 12 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip tree sap and rotting fruit, while caterpillars munch on sedge grasses. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat sedge leaves, while adults feed on tree sap, rotting fruit, and sometimes animal waste. - **Primary Foods:** tree sap, rotting fruit, animal droppings, sedge grasses - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Appalachian sedge (*Carex striata*) — Larvae feed exclusively on its leaves. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — A common bird predator of adult butterflies. - **Depends on:** [Red Maple](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-maple) (*Acer rubrum*) — Adults often feed on its fermenting sap. - **Eaten by:** [Yellow Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-garden-spider) (*Argiope aurantia*) — Adults can become ensnared in its large webs. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch butterflies from a distance so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Appalachian Brown? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Appalachian Brown's wingspan? 45-55 mm ### How big is Appalachian Brown? 11-18 mm ### How long does Appalachian Brown live? 10-20 days ### How fast can Appalachian Brown fly? 12 km/h ### What does Appalachian Brown eat? Adults sip tree sap and rotting fruit, while caterpillars munch on sedge grasses. ### Where is Appalachian Brown usually found? Forests ### How does Appalachian Brown hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Cedarville State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedarville-state-forest) — Maryland, US · Forest - [Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kenilworth-park-and-aquatic-gardens) — District of Columbia, US · Botanical Garden - [Lafayette Square Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lafayette-square-historic-district) — District of Columbia, US · Historic District - [Savannah–Ogeechee Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/savannah-ogeechee-canal) — Georgia, US · Historic Site - [Arlington Heights Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arlington-heights-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District - [Bartholdi Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bartholdi-park) — District of Columbia, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Appalachian Brown](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/appalachian-brown) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Appalachian Brown: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/appalachian-brown)