Appalachian Brown - Alabama Butterfly Atlas

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Appalachian Browns live among the sedgy edges of swamps, creek banks, and other wetland areas. They are virtually always encountered under a shady, closed canopy and within sight of water. This particular niche has only recently been understood, because for many years these butterflies were considered part of another species known as Eyed Browns. In 1947, renowned University of Alabama professor, Ralph L. Chermock, recognized that within this group, a separate, more southern form existed. Full species status was awarded in the 1970s, and the name "Appalachian Brown" was adopted.

These non-colonial butterflies tend to scatter within their territory. Only a few individuals are typically encountered at any one time. Their nondescript color palette serves them well in their shady haunts. Even though they typically perch on green foliage, they are cryptic and camouflaged among surrounding tree trunks and ground litter.

In Alabama, Appalachian Browns are known from the Mountains/Piedmont and Upper Plains Regions. However, sightings in Florida indicate that these butterflies should be looked for in the Coastal Region as well.

Distribution and Abundance

A dot on the county map indicates that there is at least one documented record of the species within that county. In some cases, a species may be common throughout the county, in others it may be found in only a specific habitat. The High Count information shows the highest numbers recorded for this species as well as when and where they occurred.

The sightings bar graphs depict the timing of flight(s) within each of three geographic regions. Place your cursor on a bar within the graph to see the number of individuals recorded during that period.

The abundance calendar displays the total number of individuals recorded within each week of the month. Both the graphs and the calendar are on based data collection that began in 2000.

The records analyzed here are only a beginning. As more data is collected, these maps and graphs will paint a more accurate picture of distribution and abundance in Alabama. Submit your sightings to albutterflyatlas@gmail.com.

Sightings in the following counties: Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Dallas, Elmore, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Perry, Pickens, Shelby, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Winston