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 6995 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 12, 2026
Submitted by: Graycatbird88
Region: Rockland County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 12, 2026
Observation date: Jul 06, 2026
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 10, 2026
Observation date: Jul 08, 2026
Submitted by: Rgilson
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Jul 09, 2026
Observation date: Jun 02, 2026
Submitted by: debborahm12
Region: Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Jul 08, 2026
Observation date: Jul 05, 2026
Submitted by: jwsformo
Region: Genesee County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 07, 2026
Observation date: Jun 07, 2021
Submitted by: Tam Stage
Region: Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 25, 2026
Observation date: Jun 21, 2026
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 23, 2026
Observation date: Jun 19, 2026
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 19, 2026
Observation date: Jun 15, 2026
Submitted by: LittleWoodSatyr
Region: Defiance County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 18, 2026
Observation date: Jun 07, 2026
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 10, 2026
Observation date: May 02, 2026
Submitted by: Snellzy
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 08, 2026
Observation date: Jun 06, 2026
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Fayette County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 07, 2026
Observation date: Jun 02, 2026
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 02, 2026
Observation date: Jun 02, 2026
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 02, 2026
Observation date: May 30, 2026
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 30, 2026
Observation date: May 23, 2026
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 27, 2026
Observation date: May 26, 2026
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 26, 2026
Observation date: May 21, 2026
Submitted by: Hobomok24
Region: Richland County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 22, 2026
Observation date: Apr 27, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: Apr 27, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: May 01, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: Jun 18, 2022
Submitted by: acb22
Region: Houghton County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Apr 07, 2026
Observation date: May 24, 2024
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Mar 23, 2026
Observation date: May 16, 2024
Submitted by: Mboater
Region: Amherst County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Mar 18, 2026
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