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little wood satyr

little wood satyr (Megisto cymela)
Photos © Mary Kay Rubey

Features and Behaviors

FEATURES
The adult little wood satyr is a small, brown butterfly with a one and five-eighths to one and seven-eighths inch wingspan. Its forewing has two black eyespots that are circled with yellow. The eyespots may be seen from above and below. Its light brown caterpillar is tinged with green and has a black stripe in the middle of the back.

BEHAVIORS
The little wood satyr may be found statewide in Illinois in woods and old fields. It reproduces once during the year. Its larva feeds on grasses. The adult feeds from oozing tree sap, rotten fruit, solid animal wastes, dead animals, fermenting fruit and other items. The pupa is usually attached to a leaf.

Illinois Range

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae

Illinois Status: common, native