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 25 - 48 of 6923 verified sightings
Observation date: May 22, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 24, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: James City County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: Jun 07, 2023
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Halifax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: Jun 02, 2020
Submitted by: Susan McSwain
Region: Nelson County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: May 20, 2024
Submitted by: vogelbild
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 20, 2024
Observation date: Apr 26, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Hardin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 12, 2024
Observation date: May 04, 2024
Submitted by: TomObrock
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 10, 2024
Observation date: May 05, 2024
Submitted by: Tdloyd
Region: Sumner County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 05, 2024
Observation date: Jun 06, 2023
Submitted by: jthompson6112
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 18, 2023
Observation date: Jun 16, 2023
Submitted by: jreppler
Region: Prince William County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 01, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2023
Submitted by: Shane Miller
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 29, 2023
Observation date: Jul 11, 2023
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 11, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 09, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 05, 2023
Observation date: Jul 02, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 04, 2023
Observation date: Jul 01, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Carroll County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 02, 2023
Observation date: Jun 07, 2023
Submitted by: MothMan137
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 28, 2023
Observation date: Jun 27, 2023
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 27, 2023
Observation date: Jun 20, 2023
Submitted by: Roose
Region: Saginaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2023
Submitted by: Roose
Region: Saginaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: Jun 09, 2023
Submitted by: Butterfly Bish
Region: Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 19, 2023
Observation date: Jun 05, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 16, 2023
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