American Snout

Libytheana carinenta

The American Snout is the ugly duckling of butterflies. Its long palps give it the snout-like look. When it opens its wings there is a flash of orange to see. The hindwings can have quite a bit of variation. Most of those pictured below have a mottled gray hindwing, but I’ve also seen them with plain gray hindwings and with stronger gray and white markings.

It can be found throughout the state in great numbers but is most prominent in the south. At times, these butterflies take flight in mass and you can see thousands in the air at one time. I’ve experienced this in both west and south Texas.