Harvester
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Chicago

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%

20 Verified sightings at Chicago
38 In all 3 parks From 2019 to 2026
August Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Harvester

Feniseca tarquinius, the harvester, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae, and the only member of the monotypic genus Feniseca. It is found in eastern North America. As a member of the subfamily Miletinae, this butterfly is entirely carnivorous (specifically insectivorous), making it the only obligate carnivore butterfly in North America. The larvae feed on various aphids, such as Neoprociphilus, Pemphigus, Prociphilus, and Schizoneura.

It is found in early spring until fall and is generally scarce. It lives in wooded areas near streams close to alders. The wingspan is 23–32 mm. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
2 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
3 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Toronto 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
2 Philadelphia 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
3 New York City 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
4 Chicago 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
5 Washington 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Harvester in Chicago?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Harvester sighting in Chicago on a given day, based on 20 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 438th most-seen of the 978 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Harvester in Chicago?

Any time of year

In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Harvester in Chicago on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.

What time of day is best to see a Harvester?

Between 11 am and 2 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Harvester sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Chicago the best place to see a Harvester?

Among the best

Of the 5 cities where we can rate Harvester sightings, Chicago ranks 4th at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Toronto (Canada, under 5%), Philadelphia (United States, under 5%) and New York City (United States, under 5%).

Which relatives of the Harvester live in Chicago?

Same family: Lycaenidae

The closest relatives of the Harvester that you can see in Chicago (family Lycaenidae, Gossamer-winged Butterflies) are Cyaniris neglecta (about 10%) and Elkalyce comyntas (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Harvester sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Harvester is recorded against all the insects logged in Chicago (20 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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