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.
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 6967 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Jun 07, 2025
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 02, 2025
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 03, 2025
Observation date: Jun 02, 2025
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 03, 2025
Observation date: May 23, 2025
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 30, 2025
Observation date: May 25, 2025
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 26, 2025
Observation date: May 14, 2025
Submitted by: greggra
Region: Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 19, 2025
Observation date: Jun 12, 2024
Submitted by: crprice
Region: Ripley County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 06, 2025
Observation date: Jul 16, 2022
Submitted by: emma.stevens
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 03, 2025
Observation date: Jun 18, 2023
Submitted by: jenni_beth
Region: Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: Jun 27, 2022
Submitted by: JHummel
Region: Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: Jun 20, 2022
Submitted by: jmacmetro
Region: Bergen County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: Jun 29, 2023
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: Jul 11, 2023
Submitted by: tom nolan
Region: Passaic County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: Jul 01, 2024
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 13, 2024
Observation date: Jun 18, 2024
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 13, 2024
Observation date: Mar 12, 2023
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: Apr 12, 2023
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: May 30, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Windham County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 09, 2024
- ‹ previous
- 2 of 291
- next ›