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Common Wood Nymph Butterfly - Cercyonis pegala
Superfamily: Papilionoidea - True Butterflies / Family:
Nymphalidae - Brushfoots / Subfamily: Satyrinae - Satyrs & Wood
Nymphs / Species: Cercyonis pegala
Live adult butterflies
photographed at Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve, Winfield IL
USA. |
Identification: Geographically variable. Wings are
brown. Upperside of
forewing has 2 large yellow-ringed eyespots.
Lowerside of
hindwing has a variable number of small eyespots.
Southern and coastal butterflies are larger and have a
yellow or yellow-orange patch on the outer part of the
forewing. Inland butterflies are smaller and have the
yellow forewing patch reduced or absent.
Life history: Males patrol for females with a
dipping
flight through the vegetation. In late summer,
females lay eggs singly on host plant leaves.
Caterpillars hatch but do not feed, instead hibernating
until spring.
Flight: One brood from late May-October. Females emerge
later than males.
Wing span: 1 3/4 - 3 inches (4.5 - 7.6 cm).
Caterpillar hosts: Purpletop (Tridens flavus) and other
grasses.
Adult food: Rotting fruit, flower nectar.
Habitat: Large, sunny, grassy areas including prairies,
open meadows, bogs, and old fields.
Range: Southern Canada and the continental United States
except for most of the Southwest and Texas, southern
peninsular Florida, and northern Maine.
Conservation: Isolated populations in Great Basin
wetlands may be of concern.
NatureServe Global Status: G5 - Demonstrably secure
globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its
range, especially at the periphery.
[1]
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This butterfly is also commonly called the Large Wood Nymph. Indeed, it
is so widespread, abundant, and varable in color, it has dozens of
common names. All are actually this one species. My Audubon Society
says this butterfly perches on tree trunks to bask in the sun or
drink sap, but I've never seen them do either. I rarely see them do
anything but flit about in tall grass. It seems I never get an
unobstructed shot at one - they always have me on my knees. (sort of
like a couple of my ex-wives). These photos show the variability of
colors in this species, from light tan to dark chocolate brown.
Similar species: No other large eastern Satyr has two large forewing
eyespots.
Life Cycle: eggs are yellow, ribbed, pitted, round on
bottom and flat on top. Caterpillar grass green, with 4 lengthwise
yellow lines, fine fuzzy hair, and 2 red tails. Overwinters shortly
after hatching. Host plants are various grasses. Chrysalis is plump,
green. 1 brood, usually in June-August.
Habitat: Oak and Pine
woodlands, meadows, fields, marshes, prairie thickets and roadsides.
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References:
1. Opler, Paul A., Harry Pavulaan, Ray
E. Stanford, Michael Pogue, coordinators. 2006.
Butterflies and Moths of North America. Bozeman, MT:
NBII Mountain Prairie Information Node.
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/
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