Satyrs
What are they?
The satyrs, wood Nymphs and allies were once placed in their own family, the Satyridae, but some taxonomists now place them within a broader Nymphalidae. Almost all species in this family are characterized by being brown or gray-brown with distinct eye spots on the wings, though there are some exceptions in other parts of the world. These are largely woodland species, though some occur in rough, grassy places too. The adults are rarely seen nectaring at flowers but are most often found basking in sunny patches in woodland, usually on low vegetation or on the ground. The larvae of most species feed on grasses or sedges.
Identification
Satyrs often land with the wings closed and it is the pattern on the underside of the hindwing that is most useful in identifying the species. The number and precise location of eye spots and the presence (or absence) and shape of any midwing lines or bars on the underside of the hindwing are most important to determine.
Appalachian Brown Satyrodes appalachia
Wingspan: 1.9 inches. Flight time: June to September. Larval foodplant: Sedges (Carex spp.) and beak-sedges (Rhynchospora spp.) A local species, though fairly widespread and usually found in swampy woodland clearings. Note that underside hindwing has two lines, the outer one clearly more wavy than the inner and it has six eye spots.
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Little Wood Satyr Megisto cymela
Wingspan: 1.6 inches. Flight time: May to July. Larval foodplant: Various grasses (Poaceae). A widespread and common species, found in all kinds of grassy places, though usually areas with at least some tree cover and ranker, uncut grasses. Note that underside hindwing has two, more or less straight, lines and two large eye spots.
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Common Wood Nymph Cercyonis pegala
Wingspan: 2.3 inches. Flight time: Late May to September. Larval foodplant: Various grasses (Poaceae). A widespread species, found in all kinds of grassy places, though usually in patchy areas of grass/scrub or field edges close to woodland. Darker, chocolate brown than other satyrs in our region and with a contrasting pinkish-orange patch on the forewing, which fades to creamy later in the season.
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