Common Wood-Nymph
Cercyonis pegala (Fabricius, 1775)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Satyrinae
Identification: Geographically variable. Wings are brown. Upperside of forewing has 2 large yellow-ringed eyespots. Lowerside of hindwing has a variable number of small eyespots. Southern and coastal butterflies are larger and have a yellow or yellow-orange patch on the outer part of the forewing. Inland butterflies are smaller and have the yellow forewing patch reduced or absent.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 3 inches (4.5 - 7.6 cm).
Life History: Males patrol for females with a dipping flight through the vegetation. In late summer, females lay eggs singly on host plant leaves. Caterpillars hatch but do not feed, instead hibernating until spring.
Flight: One brood from late May-October. Females emerge later than males.
Caterpillar Hosts: Purpletop (Tridens flavus) and other grasses.
Adult Food: Rotting fruit, flower nectar.
Habitat: Large, sunny, grassy areas including prairies, open meadows, bogs, and old fields.
Range: Southern Canada and the continental United States except for most of the Southwest and Texas, southern peninsular Florida, and northern Maine.
Conservation: Isolated populations in Great Basin wetlands may be of concern.
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 8082 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 22, 2025
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 13, 2025
Observation date: Aug 04, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Lincoln County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 05, 2025
Observation date: Jul 28, 2025
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 02, 2025
Observation date: Jul 07, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Goshen County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 31, 2025
Observation date: Jul 11, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Sioux County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jul 28, 2025
Observation date: Jul 27, 2025
Submitted by: cp2023
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 26, 2025
Submitted by: drifter423
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 26, 2025
Submitted by: Ratty
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 23, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 25, 2025
Observation date: Jul 17, 2025
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 20, 2025
Observation date: Jul 19, 2025
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 19, 2025
Observation date: Jul 09, 2025
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 13, 2025
Observation date: Aug 27, 2024
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jun 30, 2022
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Morris County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2021
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Warren County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Morris County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jun 29, 2020
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Morris County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 05, 2025
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Cherry County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Jul 06, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Warren County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 07, 2025
Observation date: Aug 04, 2024
Submitted by: Geoff Urwin
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Jul 04, 2025
Submitted by: Blablancwillis
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Jul 01, 2025
Submitted by: JChris173
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 03, 2025
Observation date: Jul 20, 2005
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Jefferson County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 13, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 1986
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Douglas County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 31, 2025
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