Little Wood-Satyr
Megisto cymela (Cramer, 1777)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Satyrinae
Identification: Light brown. Forewing has 2 yellow-rimmed black eyespots both above and below. Hindwing has 2 eyespots on upper side; but may have smaller spots below.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 1 7/8 inches (3.8 - 4.8 cm).
Life History: In the early morning and late afternoon, Little Wood Satyrs bask with their wings open while perched on tree leaves or on leaf litter. Adults have a slow bouncing flight and will rise as far as the tops of tall trees. Males patrol in the shade to find females. Eggs are laid singly on grass blades. Fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One brood from June-July in the north; two to three broods from March-September in the south.
Caterpillar Hosts: Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) and centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides).
Adult Food: Sap, aphid honeydew, and rarely flower nectar.
Habitat: Grassy woods and openings, old fields; especially in limey or basic soils.
Range: Eastern Nebraska and northeastern Colorado south to eastern Texas; east through all of the eastern United States except northern New England, southern peninsular Florida, and coastal Louisiana.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 6929 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 18, 2023
Submitted by: jenni_beth
Region: Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: Jun 27, 2022
Submitted by: JHummel
Region: Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: Jun 20, 2022
Submitted by: jmacmetro
Region: Bergen County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: Jun 29, 2023
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: Jul 11, 2023
Submitted by: tom nolan
Region: Passaic County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: Jul 01, 2024
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 13, 2024
Observation date: Jun 18, 2024
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 13, 2024
Observation date: Mar 12, 2023
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: Apr 12, 2023
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: May 30, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Windham County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 09, 2024
Observation date: Jul 03, 2024
Submitted by: TJ in Derry
Region: New London County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 02, 2024
Observation date: Jun 28, 2024
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 18, 2024
Observation date: Jun 28, 2024
Submitted by: chirpus
Region: Albany County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 14, 2024
Observation date: Jul 07, 2024
Submitted by: cmilledge3
Region: Allen County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 07, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2023
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 01, 2024
Observation date: Jun 28, 2024
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 28, 2024
Observation date: Jun 25, 2024
Submitted by: Elfin
Region: Sussex County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 25, 2024
Observation date: Jun 15, 2024
Submitted by: B Reinsel
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 16, 2024
Observation date: Jun 12, 2024
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 15, 2024
Observation date: Jun 12, 2024
Submitted by: jwileyrains
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 13, 2024
Observation date: Jun 07, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 10, 2024
Observation date: Jun 07, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 10, 2024
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 10, 2024
Observation date: May 25, 2024
Submitted by: Ozark_Bill
Region: Franklin County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
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