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 6961 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 13, 2025
Observation date: Jul 02, 2020
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Morris County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 13, 2025
Observation date: Jun 29, 2020
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Morris County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 13, 2025
Observation date: Jun 28, 2020
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Morris County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 13, 2025
Observation date: Jun 14, 2020
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 13, 2025
Observation date: Jul 10, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 11, 2025
Observation date: Jun 27, 2025
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
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: Jun 27, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 26, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Jul 03, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 07, 2025
Observation date: Jun 30, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 07, 2025
Observation date: Jul 03, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 07, 2025
Observation date: Jul 01, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 07, 2025
Observation date: Jul 03, 2025
Submitted by: Lydiaak
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Jun 23, 2025
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 27, 2025
Observation date: Jun 26, 2025
Submitted by: barthsm
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 27, 2025
Observation date: Jun 20, 2025
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Porter County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 21, 2025
Observation date: Jun 14, 2025
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 16, 2025
Observation date: Jun 09, 2025
Submitted by: dnight30
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 11, 2025
Observation date: Jun 05, 2025
Submitted by: greggra
Region: Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 10, 2025
Observation date: Jun 03, 2025
Submitted by: david.eberly
Region: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 10, 2025
Observation date: Jun 04, 2025
Submitted by: henryr10
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 05, 2025
Submitted by: SusanPotomac
Region: Schuyler County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
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