little wood satyr (Megisto cymela)
CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.
FAMILY: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)
SUBFAMILY: Satyrs and Wood-Nymphs (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.
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.
WING SPAN: 1 1/2 - 1 7/8 inches (3.8 - 4.8 cm).
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.
NATURESERVE GLOBAL STATUS: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally,
though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the
periphery.
MANAGEMENT NEEDS: None reported.
SKY MEADOWS OCCURRENCE:
Note: Due to seasonal conditions in this region, occurrence may vary from
year to year. The designation of occurrence may range over two or more
categories and may vary even during a single season.
Key to Checklist
A Abundant: Easy to see very large numbers of individuals in appropriate habitat
at proper time of year.
C Common: Usually each to see good numbers of individuals in appropriate habitat
at proper time of year.
U Uncommon: Sometimes found in appropriate habitat and proper time of year,
usually in low numbers.
O Occasional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times a year, usually
in low numbers.
R Rare: Small chance of being found, even in appropriate habitat at proper time of
year. There are few individuals and may not be present every year.
X Extirpated: Formerly present, no longer occurs in Sky Meadows Park.
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