Species Megisto cymela - Little Wood Satyr - Hodges#4578

4578

Megisto cymela (Cramer)

Orig. Comb: Papilio cymela Cramer 1777

wingspan 29-48 mm

Adult: Upperside, has yellow-rimmed eyespots on each wing (usually two on each wing); on underside, forewing has at least two spots that are much larger than the other spots (which may be deformed or missing), and hindwing has at least two large dark eyespots and several smaller spots. Eyes are black, even in life.

Larva: body light greenish-brown with dark dorsal stripe and alternating brown and yellowish lateral stripes; surface covered with small bumps, each bearing a short reddish-brown hair; head dirty white, and "tails" light gray

Carolina Satyr - Hermeuptychia sosybius is not found north of New Jersey and southern Ohio; its upperside has no eyespots, and underside of forewing usually has one spot slightly larger than the other spots (not two or more large spots, as in Little Wood Satyr). Eyes are gray when still alive.

Red Satyr - Megisto rubricata is mostly found further west, but might be found flying with M. cymela in Kansas, Oklahoma, and especially in Texas. It typically has only one large eyespot on each wing above, a distinct reddish cast, and only one enlarged eyespot on lower side of front wing.

e NA to MT - Map (MPG)

near woods or shrubby areas

mostly May-July (MPG)

larvae feed on grasses, including Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata), Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis), and Centipede Grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides)

adults occasionally feed on sap or on flower nectar, but are usually seen resting on leaves

one generation per year in Canada; two or three farther south; eggs are laid singly on grass blades; overwinters as a fourth-instar larva

common to abundant

Red Satyr

Butterflies of America - BOA

Butterflies and Moths of North America - BAMONA

Butterflies of Canada - CBIF