Satyrine
Guides
Cercyonis pegala
Common Wood-Nymph, Wood-Nymph, Grayling, Blue-Eyed Grayling, Goggle Eye
Cercyonis pegala is a widespread North American satyrine butterfly commonly known as the Common Wood-Nymph. It occupies diverse open habitats including grasslands, meadows, and woodland edges across much of the continent. The species exhibits notable variation in wing pattern across its range, with coastal and interior populations showing consistent differences in eyespot size and number. Unlike some congeners, it remains common and broadly distributed, though habitat loss affects local populations.
Coenonympha tullia california
California Ringlet
Coenonympha tullia california is a subspecies of the Common Ringlet butterfly, historically found in low-elevation areas of central and northern California. According to long-term monitoring by UC Davis professor Art Shapiro, this subspecies was regionally extirpated from the Sacramento Valley and surrounding lowlands by 2007, becoming one of several butterfly species to disappear from Shapiro's study transect between Chico and Stockton. The decline is attributed to climate change disrupting diapause cues and pesticide exposure, particularly neonicotinoids. The subspecies exemplifies broader patterns of butterfly population collapse documented across North America.
Coenonympha tullia ochracea
Large Heath, Ochraceous Ringlet
Coenonympha tullia ochracea is a subspecies of the Large Heath butterfly, a satyrine nymphalid found in peatland and bog habitats across northern Europe and North America. This subspecies exhibits the characteristic orange-ochre coloration that distinguishes it from other C. tullia forms. The species is notable for its association with intact blanket bog ecosystems, where it serves as an indicator of healthy peatland conditions. Like other Coenonympha species, it faces threats from habitat degradation, drainage, and wildfire.
Lethe eurydice
Eyed Brown, Marsh Eyed Brown
Lethe eurydice, commonly known as the Eyed Brown or Marsh Eyed Brown, is a North American satyrine butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. The species inhabits marshy and wetland environments across northern North America, with records from Canadian provinces including Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, as well as the northeastern United States. Adults display the characteristic brown coloration and eyespot patterns typical of the Satyrinae subfamily.
Lethe portlandia
Southern Pearly-eye, Portland Pearlyeye, Pearly Eye
Lethe portlandia, commonly known as the Southern Pearly-eye, is a satyrine butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States, ranging from eastern Oklahoma and Texas eastward through the coastal plain. Adults are characterized by eyespots on the wings and a distinctive flight pattern in shaded woodland habitats. The species has been subject to taxonomic revision, with some authorities placing it in the genus Enodia.
Megisto rubricata
Little Wood Satyr
Megisto rubricata, the Little Wood Satyr, is a small to medium-sized satyrine butterfly found in eastern North America. The species was originally described by William Henry Edwards in 1871 and has been transferred to the genus Euptychia in some taxonomic treatments, though Megisto remains widely used in North American literature. Adults are characterized by their brown coloration with distinct eyespots on the wings. The species inhabits woodland edges and openings where its larval host grasses grow.
Oeneis macounii
Macoun's Arctic, Canada Arctic
Oeneis macounii is a medium-sized satyrine butterfly occurring across boreal North America. Adults have a wingspan of 46–65 mm and exhibit a distinctive biennial life cycle with regionally alternating flight years. The species is closely associated with pine forests, particularly jack pine and lodgepole pine systems.