Cercyonis

Scudder, 1875

wood-nymphs, wood nymphs

Species Guides

Cercyonis meadii(Mead's Wood-Nymph)
Cercyonis oetus(Small Wood-Nymph)
Cercyonis pegala(Common Wood-Nymph)
Cercyonis sthenele(Great Basin wood-nymph)

Cercyonis is a of satyrine butterflies in the Nymphalidae, distributed across North America. The genus comprises at least four recognized , including the widespread common wood-nymph (C. pegala) and the regionally restricted Mead's wood-nymph (C. meadii). A newly described species, the Bald Hills Satyr (C. incognita), was discovered in the High North Coast Range of California and may be at risk due to loss from wildfires. Members of this genus are commonly referred to as wood-nymphs or wood nymphs.

Cercyonis pegala P1200815a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Cercyonis meadii P1520908a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Great Basin Wood-nymph, Cercyonis tenele masoni, female. Pack Crk. 6400', La Sal Mtns., UT. 16 Aug 2020. R. Hannawacker 1 (50493383006) by Robb Hannawacker. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cercyonis: /sɛrˈsɪoʊnɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

within Cercyonis can be distinguished by wing pattern details, coloration, and geographic distribution. Cercyonis pegala is the largest and most widespread species. Cercyonis meadii is characterized by red eyes. Cercyonis sthenele occurs in the Great Basin region. Cercyonis oetus is smaller and darker than C. pegala. The recently described C. incognita was distinguished from by morphological and presumably genetic differences, though specific diagnostic characters are not detailed in available sources.

Images

Habitat

vary by but generally include open woodlands, meadows, and grassy areas. Cercyonis incognita was documented from mid-elevation sites on Goat Mountain in the Mendocino National Forest, within successional montane chaparral and associated plant .

Distribution

North America. Documented from the United States including Vermont and across western and central regions. -specific ranges include: C. pegala (widespread), C. meadii (restricted, possibly Ozark and Appalachian regions), C. sthenele (Great Basin), C. oetus (western North America), and C. incognita (High North Coast Range, California).

Seasonality

periods vary by and latitude. Cercyonis pegala flies from mid-summer into early autumn in most of its range. Specific seasonality for other North American species is not well documented in available sources.

Human Relevance

The includes of interest to enthusiasts and researchers. Cercyonis incognita became a focal point for conservation concern following the 2020 California wildfires, which may have destroyed all known . The genus has been studied by lepidopterists including Art Shapiro, who documented butterfly faunas in the Mendocino region since 1974.

Similar Taxa

HyponepheleHistorical taxonomic confusion; some authorities have placed related meadow brown in Hyponephele rather than Cercyonis, and the classification of Old World "Cercyonis" species remains unsettled
OeneisBoth are satyrine with brown coloration and eyespots; Oeneis (arctics) are generally more northern and associated with colder